Environmental protection comes in many forms. Some are grand, like the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some are a little less than grand, like this ordinary piece of orange drainage fabric that the City requires developers to install in new storm sewer intake grates while land grading is still going on in a new development.
Why do we have this requirement? Check out the photo to the left. See all the dirt and small rocks that are sitting on top of the black fabric (same materials as the orange fabric, just different color)? If we did not have the fabric under the grate, that materials would be in our storm sewer system accumulating and accumulating, until is caused a clog, which would eventually cause something to flood.
The City’s engineering division and building inspection division staffs enforce regulations like the one requiring developers to install this protective fabric on new storm sewer intakes because it’s part of their mission to promote safety in the community. Safety for people and property, and for the environment too.
