L’Observateur / October 11, 1999

DEAR EDITOR: I am both appalled and concerned at the ineptness displayed by the Public Works Department and Administra-tion at the Sept. 20 St. Charles ParishCouncil meeting, when responding to important and basic subdivision drainage questions.

The drainage questions were prompted by an alarming $1.2 millionemergency request to repair a subdivision drainage canal in Ormond Trace Subdivision. The questions raised by the Council were basic to the designand construction of the canal and based on fundamental civil engineering practices; that is, what is the velocity and integrity of the canal, and the integrity of all drainage canals in existing and proposed parish subdivisions? Amazingly, there was no direct response to these important drainage questions in support of the proposed fix. Rather, there was a complacentattitude that spending big money will solve the problem and anything else would be a “band-aid fix.” On the contrary, as a practicing civil engineerand resident of Destrehan, I feel that Public Works should have answers to important drainage questions and any drainage repairs should be cost- effective and based on fundamental engineering calculations.

What is the proper response to these drainage questions? Answer – Compliance by subdivision regulations to St. Charles Parish Ordinance 81-8-2, Appendix C, which is an excellent and explicit regulation that requires a developer to submit a detailed Drainage Impact Analysis performed by a registered civil engineer, not only to design the drainage features of the subdivision (including canals) but also to provide a comprehensive report on the effect of drainage on adjacent subdivisions.

Thus, if the Administration is enforcing their ordinance, there will be answers to drainage questions, as the ordinance also states that the developer’s engineer shall submit “clear, concise, step-by-step calculations.”And this required Drainage Impact Analysis is the basis for review by Public Works prior to subdivision approval. This ordinance mandatescorrective measures if the Impact Analysis (including canal integrity) fails to meet sound engineering practices to avoid future drainage problems affecting St. Charles Parish homeowners.Unfortunately, this ordinance also allows a waiver by the developer on this Drainage Impact Analysis – imagine, a waiver on a requirement to submit engineering data on drainage so vital to the Parish and homeowners! Now, anyone can visit the Parish website, read this ordinance, and telephone Public Works to obtain the required Drainage Impact Analysis on a particular subdivision. Hopefully, the following important drainage datacan be found in the subdivision file folder: Rainfall capacity and integrity (strength) of drainage canals.

Water velocity in canals and recommended erosion control measures.

The cumulative effect of drainage on adjacent subdivisions.

The level of flooding at the 24-hour rainfall (the 100-year storm).

Perhaps the St. Charles Parish Council can obtain the file folder onexisting and proposed subdivisions to answer basic subdivision drainage questions.

But let’s hope the subdivision file folder does not contain one disturbing word – waiver.

John C. Bivona, P.E.

Destrehan

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