Signal Hill is considering making Reservoir Park the site of a new water conservation project aimed at reducing the amount of stormwater runoff in the city.
If the project is approved by the City, an underground infiltration system will be installed at Reservoir Park.
When rain falls in urban areas, it mostly falls on surfaces where it cannot be absorbed back into the earth, such as streets and sidewalks, and a significant portion of it becomes runoff water that makes its way to the ocean through drains.
Stormwater infiltration is when water from rainfall is allowed to flow through porous, natural ground surfaces, such as dirt and grass. When stormwater is filtered through the earth during infiltration, many pollutants can be removed, and the water has a chance to flow back down to groundwater levels (where the earth’s natural supply of subterranean water collects).
A storm drain located near Reservoir Park currently directs all the stormwater runoff it collects through a water line managed by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District to an infiltration system located at the Long Beach Airport.
If the project at Reservoir Park is approved, the City of Signal Hill will install a 66 inch diameter pipe to intercept the existing water line, and divert a portion of the water towards the Reservoir Park infiltration system.
Thomas Bekele, director of the Signal Hill Public Works Department said that the infiltration system will consist of an underground chamber with a gravel bottom. Stormwater will flow from the storm drain to the chamber, where it will collect and slowly leak back into the earth through the gravel.
The City of Signal Hill is asking residents to take a survey in order to gauge public opinion of water usage.
While residents were asked to take a different online survey regarding Reservoir Park last month, City Manager Carlo Tomaino said the previous survey was looking more specifically at residents’ opinions on overall park usage, while this one focuses more on water usage.
However, not all of the questions in the new survey have to do with water, with some questions asking about public safety and new amenities.
Some of the questions on the survey include the following:
- Should the City consider conserving water by planting more drought-tolerant plants at Reservoir Park, despite the recent increase in rainfall?
- Are you generally in support of recharging our ground water table with surface runoff or storm water?
- Have you observed trespassing and/or vandalism at Reservoir Park or the adjacent water facility, Gundry Reservoir?
- Do you believe that cameras/monitoring systems should be added to Reservoir Park?
- Would you like to have a walking trail within Reservoir Park?
The survey can be taken online at https://s.surveyplanet.com/8l94qe87 until Friday, June 9.
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