Rio Vista’s Municipal Rates and Utilities ad hoc committee met on Thursday, February 27th to discuss storm drain problems resulting from the lack of funds needed for system upkeep. The aim was to provide a recommendation to the City Council on the necessary steps to rectify the situation.
Rio Vista’s underground storm drains, dating back to the 1950s, primarily consist of 8 or 12-inch diameter galvanized corrugated metal pipes (CMP) that carry rainwater runoff to the Sacramento River. In the 1990’s the city started using more durable storm drainpipes made with contemporary materials. But because of the system’s age and the fact that CMP decays in soils typical of the Delta, extensive parts of the old storm drain system need to be replaced.
Three times last November and December dangerous sinkholes developed during heavy rains because CMP drain lines running beneath the streets in and around town failed. Over $68,000 was spent on emergency repairs that were not part of the budget. In fact, the budget dollars available to pay for repairs was under $41,000 for the entire year.
The growing risk of storm drain failures was clear to the Municipal Rates and Utilities Committee, which will recommend a storm drain rate increase initiative to the City Council.
The committee will also suggest that the Rio Vista City Council allocate $150,000 for an underground remote-controlled CCTV robot to inspect our storm drain system, followed by the development of a budget for maintaining or replacing high-risk sections.
Further information regarding public meetings and announcements on this subject will be published by The Beacon.