New construction projects in Ann Arbor may soon need to do more about capturing rainfall on-site. The Ann Arbor City Council Monday will consider the first reading of changes to the stormwater management ordinance. The changes are required to remain in line with the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's rules.
For Ann Arbor, the changes mean a mandatory pre-application meeting, new standards for storm sizes, and a requirement for infiltration of the first inch of rainfall on-site.
Evan Pratt is the Water Resources Commissioner. Pratt says it simply makes sense to keep stormwater on-site rather than have the government try to build ever larger detention ponds. "It's a cost either way and in my personal experience it's cheaper for me to do it myself then to contract the government to do it for me. That's what I found personally. I don't know if everybody would agree with that," he says.
Pratt says the goal is to reduce pollution reaching the Huron River in stormwater and to limit flooding problems. He says it will take ten to 15 years and multiple strategies to see a real change in water quality.
If Ann Arbor City Council approves the first reading Monday a final vote will take place next month.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
