City documents outline stormwater drain problem, including ‘historic underfunding’
As people continue to recover from last week’s devastating storm and flooding, the City of San Diego is playing catch up when clearing the drains and canals that were overwhelmed last week. Years of underfunding and deferred maintenance have contributed to the situation the city is now facing.
Elvira Paulin, a resident of Southcrest, is among the many affected by the flooding. Her house on Beta Street was flooded, resulting in the loss of her belongings and a significant impact on her life. The devastating event has left her feeling upset with the city’s response to the situation.
The City of San Diego’s budget indicates that more money is being allocated each year for stormwater work. However, other documents reveal a significant underfunding issue. Despite efforts by 10News to obtain information regarding the allocation of funds, the city stated that a public records request would be required.
Although the request is still pending, Spencer Soicher, a reporter for 10News, discovered additional documents outlining the problem at hand. It is widely agreed upon by both residents and city officials that the stormwater funding issue has persisted for several years.
A memo from the city’s stormwater department in 2021 highlighted the aging and deterioration of the infrastructure, stating that the failures within the system result in adverse effects such as sinkholes, erosion along coastlines, and pollution backing up into streets and alleys, not just during rainy periods but all year round.
During a City of San Diego Environment Committee meeting in November 2021, a committee member emphasized the city’s inability to keep up with the available funding. The vulnerabilities within the system are pushing it towards failure mode, with significant consequences such as the flooding observed in Chollas Creek.
The release of a five-year capital infrastructure planning outlook within the past year further emphasized the risk of flooding and catastrophic failure due to deferred maintenance caused by historic underfunding. The report identified a need for over $2 billion in stormwater upgrades during the next five years to address the issue.
Efforts are being made by the City of San Diego to tackle this problem head-on. Mayor Todd Gloria announced in 2022 that the city had secured over $700 million in loans and grants specifically allocated to stormwater projects over the next five years. However, as he emphasized during a press conference, implementing these projects takes time due to the involvement of regulators, interest groups, and various other stakeholders.
Elvira Paulin’s personal experience serves as a reminder of the urgency in addressing the stormwater drain problem. With memories, furniture, and even the gifts from Christmas all lost in the flood, the devastating impact on individuals and families cannot be understated.
The City of San Diego must work diligently to secure the necessary funding and implement the required upgrades to the stormwater system. Doing so will not only prevent future flooding but also mitigate other long-term consequences, such as sinkholes and pollution. It is crucial that the residents of San Diego feel secure in their homes and confident in the city’s ability to handle extreme weather events.
In the meantime, individuals like Elvira Paulin continue to face the harsh reality of the stormwater drain problem. The city must act swiftly and effectively to prevent further devastation and provide relief to those affected.
