City enhancing stormwater system responsiveness to combat flooding
Eagle Mountain City is making significant changes to its stormwater management.
Recently, the City adjusted the calculations for Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) applied to stormwater fees. These changes, which impact commercial and industrial stormwater system users, will help the City invest in better equipment and personnel to address long-standing challenges with flooding, particularly during the spring when heavy rain and snowmelt strain the stormwater system.
“The City is seeking creative solutions to address flooding while ensuring costs are fairly distributed among all users,” says City Finance/Management Analyst Terrence Dela Pena. “By implementing equitable stormwater fee calculations for residential, institutional, and industrial properties, the Stormwater Division aims to secure the resources needed—both personnel and equipment—to effectively tackle the issue.”
For years, spring flooding has been an annual concern in Eagle Mountain, affecting neighborhoods, detention basins and streets.
With the stormwater adjustments, the City aims to improve its ability to respond to flooding incidents and better maintain its infrastructure. Recent investments include new equipment such as a jet truck to clean out storm drains and a skid steer to remove debris from roads after storms. A camera truck will also be added to the fleet, allowing for detailed inspections of underground stormwater pipes to identify and address potential issues before they escalate.
In addition to equipment upgrades, the City is hiring a dedicated stormwater inspector. This position will focus on long-term stormwater oversight for commercial, industrial and institutional properties. The inspector will also conduct dry-weather screenings to identify pollutants, ensuring compliance with state and City regulations.
These steps are part of the City’s broader effort to enhance pollution prevention and maintain clean, efficient stormwater systems.
“The stormwater department acknowledges the current deficiencies in our infrastructure and is committed to addressing them,” says Stormwater Supervisor Larry Diamond.
Businesses in Eagle Mountain will play a role in the updated stormwater strategy. The state of Utah requires cities to have long-term stormwater management agreements with commercial property owners to regularly inspect their stormwater systems for pollutants, erosion and trash. The findings are submitted to Eagle Mountain City.
To assist with compliance, the City will offer onsite inspections every two years for these properties free of charge.
While the risk of flooding in the spring is largely weather-dependent, the changes are designed to help the City better manage its infrastructure and quickly respond to emergencies. Clean and functional curb and gutter systems will be critical in ensuring that stormwater infrastructure operates as intended during heavy rain events.
The City is also developing an Infrastructure Deficiencies master plan to map stormwater-deficient areas and prioritize future upgrades. Although this process will take years, by proactively addressing short-term and long-term areas of concern, Eagle Mountain aims to mitigate flooding risks and improve the overall resilience of its stormwater infrastructure.
“We are actively planning improvements that will be made possible with the addition of staff and upgraded equipment,” says Diamond. “This will allow us to better serve the community and ensure the long-term efficiency and resilience of our stormwater systems.”
These updates come as part of the City’s commitment to listening to residents and responding to their concerns.
For more information about the City’s stormwater management efforts, visit the Eagle Mountain City website or contact the Stormwater Department.