Fairhope, Alabama
FROM ROADS INTO BAY
A new method to prevent oil and other chemical contaminants from draining into area waterways and the bay was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night. Planning Commissioner Debbie Quinn had noticed the innovative technique being used at a medical clinic in Daphne -- and invited engineering firm Goodwyn, Mills and Caywood Inc. to explain the system to the Commission.
Quinn: "I happened to see up at Eastern Shore Neurology in Daphne the way they were handling storm water ... very interesting ... especially when we've been getting heavy rains ... 6.75" in 5 hours last week ... thought this was an interesting idea we need to look at for future planning."
The system essentially uses a "storm water separator" and "header box" to catch contaminants -- and then spreads out/slows down the effluent -- functioning similarly to conventional residential septic tank systems.
Quinn said she envisioned possibly using the system on the numerous large drainage pipes that currently direct storm water from roadways into the bay (ie. at the end of Pecan and Orange Streets); and she proposed using the potential BP oil spill fine money as funding.
The separator tanks would have to be cleaned out periodically -- about once a year -- to remove the collected contaminants, according to the engineers.
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| Orange Ave. |
A new method to prevent oil and other chemical contaminants from draining into area waterways and the bay was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night. Planning Commissioner Debbie Quinn had noticed the innovative technique being used at a medical clinic in Daphne -- and invited engineering firm Goodwyn, Mills and Caywood Inc. to explain the system to the Commission.
Quinn: "I happened to see up at Eastern Shore Neurology in Daphne the way they were handling storm water ... very interesting ... especially when we've been getting heavy rains ... 6.75" in 5 hours last week ... thought this was an interesting idea we need to look at for future planning."
The system essentially uses a "storm water separator" and "header box" to catch contaminants -- and then spreads out/slows down the effluent -- functioning similarly to conventional residential septic tank systems.
Quinn said she envisioned possibly using the system on the numerous large drainage pipes that currently direct storm water from roadways into the bay (ie. at the end of Pecan and Orange Streets); and she proposed using the potential BP oil spill fine money as funding.
The separator tanks would have to be cleaned out periodically -- about once a year -- to remove the collected contaminants, according to the engineers.
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