City Earns National Stormwater Recognition, Completes Stormwater Projects

The City of Pensacola Public Works & Facilities Department has been recognized along with other high-performing municipalities in the fifth annual National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards, earning Gold Recognition in Program Management and Silver Recognition in Innovation. 

These awards celebrate administrators of municipal separate storm sewer systems, or MS4s, that perform beyond regulatory requirements. Developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well combined high scores in both categories. 

"Being recognized on a national level for stormwater management is a testament to the hard work our Public Works & Facilities employees have been putting into continuing to improve stormwater quality management throughout the city," Mayor Grover Robinson said. "Successful stormwater management is essential in order to enhance water quality of area waterways, which is one of our ongoing goals for the city." 

Several stormwater projects have recently been completed as part of the city's long-term stormwater quality management efforts, providing treatment for stormwater routed to Bayou Texar. Combined, these projects are expected to remove approximately 5 tons of pollutant solids annually.

"These projects will directly benefit the water quality in Bayou Texar by removing pollutants and treating stormwater that was previously entering the bayou untreated," Public Works & Facilities Director Derrik Owens said. "Our goal is to continue to identify stormwater projects throughout the city that have specific environmental benefits and improve our stormwater quality."

The East Cross, Yates, Escambia and Osceola Outfalls at Bayou Texar Stormwater Treatment Enhancement Project was completed in August, which is now providing treatment for two stormwater basins that previously discharged into Bayou Texar with no form of treatment. 

Through the project, two underground treatment units were installed at the eastern end of Yates Avenue and Escambia Avenue to collect stormwater runoff and trap solids, oils, greases and other pollutants inside and allow clean water to leave the unit. 

A third underground treatment unit was installed in October through the Texar Drive at 18th Avenue Stormwater Treatment Enhancement Project, which also provides treatment for stormwater that was previously routed to Bayou Texar untreated. 

The accumulated sediment will be removed from the units three times a year by vacuum truck, ensuring that the units continue to properly treat the stormwater entering Bayou Texar.