Florida senator pushes for better stormwater management
Florida State Senator Danny Burgess filed a Senate bill on February 18, 2025, that would mandate local governments to better maintain their stormwater systems.
Senator Burgess represents parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
According to a Tampa Bay Times article, the bill would require annual inspections of canals and drain pipes.
The bill states that each political subdivision of the state would have to manage and report these inspections to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Local governments would need to complete a standardized inspection form by June 1 every year.
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025.
The bill intends to seek out and solve stormwater issues that plague the region, most notably flooding.
Florida experienced devastating flooding in 2024, particularly Tampa Bay, as the result of storms and hurricanes.
According to a news article, Hillsborough County voted to approve monthly updates on investigative efforts to understand what led to the flooding in 2024. The board heard a presentation from Black & Veatch, which is handling data collection on the storms in 2024.
Alex Cossin | Associate Editor
Alex Cossin is the associate editor for Waterworld Magazine, Wastewater Digest and Stormwater Solutions, which compose the Endeavor Business Media Water Group. Cossin graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Cossin can be reached at [email protected].
