Discharging Stormwater from Ponds
In coordination with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) permit, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) allows two types of discharge control structures in residential communities and commercial properties: Operable and Non-Operable. The terms “Operable” and “Non-Operable” do not refer to the structures’ ability to provide flood protection but rather to their design and functionality.
Non-operable structures, also known as “passive structures,” typically feature an overflow weir or a triangular “bleed down” orifice installed at the stormwater pond’s designed water-control elevation. These overflow orifices facilitate the gravity flow of water through the structure into drainage canals, maintaining the pond water at the designed water-control elevation. Due to their passive nature, water will flow through these structures during rainfall, except in very dry conditions when pond levels fall below the water-control elevation.
Emergency Operable Structures incorporate the passive flow mechanism mentioned above, as well as a vertical slide gate with a manual operating mechanism (usually a handwheel) that allows for controlled water flow from the pond to drainage canals. This structure can be opened to manually lower pond levels after a rain event or in preparation for major weather systems, such as tropical storms or hurricanes to allow for additional storage capacity within the community’s stormwater ponds.
These structures, both operable and non-operable, are vital infrastructure for the neighborhood’s flood control. The responsibility of maintaining these structures belongs to the HOA and property manager. It is important to maintain these structures regularly during the dry season. Information pertaining to the maintenance and upkeep of the discharge control structures should be transferred to new board members and property managers.
The Emergency Operable Structure can only be operated with permission from LWDD. This permission may be granted at the request of an individual community or business, but more often, LWDD provides blanket permission to all communities and businesses based on forecasted weather conditions. In these cases, LWDD will notify registered representatives by email, specifying the times to open and close the Operable Structure. Communities and businesses can register designated representatives to receive these notifications at https://www.lwdd.net/authorization-contacts.
For more information about your stormwater management system visit www.sfwmd.gov, to obtain a copy of your South Florida Water Management District permit.
