Anna Maria Island uses infiltration systems to capture storm water
On a rainy day like Tuesday, Anna Maria Island is especially prone to flooding. But city staff said an island-wide project is helping eliminate the large amounts of water known to drown the main road through town.
The city engineer for Holmes and Bradenton Beach, Lynn Burnett, said high tide and even slight rains are enough to create the perfect storm for their roadways.
“When it rains, the more opportunity that the water has to get into the ground and not just flood out the streets and your low level or ground level homes, [the better]" said Burnett. "That’s the goal: the goal is really for flood reduction, as much a possible.”
Burnett said anyone driving through the neighborhoods where the system hasn’t been installed yet has to drive through a foot of water. But city staff said they’ve found the solution: infiltration systems to capture the storm water through the entire island.
“We had a great downpour yesterday and the evening before and it’s working,” said Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.