Orlando Standard

The City of Orlando's Public Works Department is inviting media partners to a demonstration highlighting ongoing stormwater management efforts. The event, scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m., will take place in the Washington Shores neighborhood at the corner of Roseboro Street and Bruton Boulevard.

During the demonstration, staff will use a high-pressure vacuum truck to show how dislodging and flushing debris can help prevent flooding like that experienced by the Washington Shores neighborhood following Hurricane Ian. Media will have an opportunity to capture visuals of the work crews do every day and speak with Public Works project managers and engineers about the proposed stormwater utility fee adjustment.

Key benefits of the stormwater utility fee adjustment include flood prevention, pollution reduction, and improved water quality. Maintaining and enhancing stormwater infrastructure can help manage runoff during heavy rainfall, minimizing the risk of flooding in city neighborhoods. Proper stormwater management helps to reduce the amount of pollutants entering city waterways. Investing in stormwater systems ensures that city lakes, canal and retention ponds remain clean, benefiting both wildlife and recreational activities.

Since the stormwater utility fee was last adjusted in 2008, the community has experienced tremendous growth, unprecedented rainfall and historic flooding due to hurricanes and storms. This places a significant demand on the city’s stormwater infrastructure. For more information on the stormwater utility fee adjustment visit orlando.gov/utilityfee.

Media planning to attend the event should RSVP by contacting Doug Richards at Doug.Richards@orlando.gov.

For further inquiries, contact Ashley Papagni, Public Information Officer at ashley.papagni@orlando.gov or call 407.246.4275.