The City of Plymouth is looking at ways to reduce the risk of flooding in some of the eastern portions of the city. In particular, those who live on Candy Lane saw a significant amount of flooding last July.
The city has gotten Commonwealth Engineers to conduct a watershed study of the city’s east side. Commonwealth representatives presented their findings to the Board of Works Monday. Using data provided by the city’s Wastewater Department, the engineers were able to create models of the city’s watershed. They say water tends to collect in an area between Candy Lane and a pond to the north.
Engineer Nathan Beach told the Board of Works that there are some solutions available, “Our preferred option at this point is to basically put an inlet north of Candy Lane, increase the size of the existing sewers from 12 inches to 36, and right now, we’re looking at two different options. One is to either come south and build a new sewer on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue and connect into the Ferndale trunk sewer, which is also 36 inches in diameter. Or, come down Candy Lane and then go west onto Ferndale and basically connect at East Street.” He says their preferred plan wouldn’t completely eliminate flooding, but it would bring it under control and keep water away from homes.
According to the new plan, water in the flooded area will not drain into the nearby pond, saving space there for water from other areas. The project would also separate the city’s drainage from that of Marshall County, an issue that’s been limiting capacity in Plymouth’s sewer system.
Plymouth Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson says there are limits to what can be done, however, especially when it comes to weather like the city had last summer. “I think they determined the worst storm was rated at approximately a 25-year event, but the combination of the storms approached a 100-year event,” he says. “So you’ll never be able to plan and design for the ultimate storm. You have to have some limits on what is reasonable and what’s not reasonable. I think if you go past this, you almost get to the point to where your improvements exceed the value of the homes, and that becomes a concern.”
Construction work on the project is expected to cost $390,000, but Davidson estimates the total cost will be over half a million dollars, once other expenses are factored in. He says the city doesn’t have a funding source yet for the project, and the topic will be revisited once money is available.
