AGAWAM – The Town of Agawam has released a PSA video regarding stormwater. The PSA, produced by Moonshadow Media, explains the function of stormwater and describes the issues that need to be addressed as part of the stormwater infrastructure.

As explained in the video, the current storm drain system infrastructure in Agawam is 512 outfalls, 4,757 catch basins, 2,352 manholes, 121.5 miles of drain pipe and 3.2 miles of culverts.

The PSA explained that stormwater in populated areas is collected by catch basins and travels through pipes to local streams and rivers.

In the video, superintendent of Agawam DPW Christopher Golba said, “Millions of dollars that we spend is spent underground so people don’t see that. So they just take for granted that when it rains the water is going to drain from the streets.”

Agawam Mayor William Sapelli was also interviewed for the PSA, stating, “The unfortunate thing about stormwater management is that the old expression, ‘out of sight, out of mind.’”

Sapelli explained in the video that areas of town are frequently clogged by stormwater.

“We have several areas in town that we get called on a regular basis after a thunderstorm that are flooded areas and they’re flooded because pipes have failed or that they’re clogged,” Sapelli said.

Golba shared in the video that the age of the stormwater system and reduced maintenance on it have contributed to infrastructure issues. “Failing out falls, disintegrating pipes, it’s a 60-year-old plus system. Unfortunately, not enough money has been spent on at least maintaining it, so as time goes on we’re going to find more and more issues with the basic infrastructure,” Golba said.

The video explained that the town manages issues such as flooding through Public Works operations. Public Works often conducts street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, drainage repairs and culvert replacement. The PSA stated that the stormwater program has been unable to keep up with factors such as urban development, population growth, aging infrastructure and federal regulations.

Mark Navone of Agawam business Ron-Mar, Inc. was interviewed for the PSA. In the video, Navone said, “During a major rain event, we see that the water will come over our neighbor’s property and then into our parking lot and then just overrun the whole parking lot and into our business. We stop operations and fight the water.”

Rev. Rob Donaldson of the Feeding Hills Congregational Church and Stormwater Advisory Task Force was also interviewed in the PSA. “We’ve had the fire department come and pump out our basement more times than I can count. We’ve seen the center of Feeding Hills flooded more times than I can count. Every time there’s a massive storm,” Donaldson said.

Agawam resident Johanna Searles shared her perspective as a homeowner in the PSA. “We were told that this parcel was going to have an easement on it. Being a first time homebuyer, I really didn’t know what that meant. It was about three years after we bought the property that I learned it was a detention pond that needed to be maintained by the homeowner. So we were shocked and did not realize that the town does not maintain it. It takes a lot of equipment, special equipment and know-how to maintain a detention pond of this size. So if it does back up or get clogged, there could be flooding issues and damage to homes. It’s really for the betterment of the community that the town starts maintaining these properly,” Searles said.

The video referenced the town of Agawam’s 2017 study and public outreach efforts, including the establishment of a Stormwater Advisory Task Force.

Mario Tedeschi of Agawam business Allied Floor and Paint and the Stormwater Advisory Task Force said in the video, “Well-informed citizens showed up along with business owners. It was quite informative and I think we really got a grasp on the needs the town has and we’ve got a pretty good plan on how to tackle that.”

As shown on a chart in the PSA, Agawam currently spends about $900,000 each year on management of the stormwater program. Broken down, about 66 percent goes to operations and maintenance, 15 percent to engineering and management planning, 11 percent on regulatory compliance, 4 percent on capital improvement and equipment and 4 percent on administration.

According to the video, the town of Agawam estimates that an additional $1-2 million will be necessary to keep up with stormwater program needs. Golba said in the PSA, “Recently we found an outfall that had failed and the water was actually undermining the man hole, the whole structure itself. And our objective is to relocate that outfall and then mitigate the damage that occurred with undermining and the cost for that is approximately $880,000.”

Tedeschi explained the decision of the Stormwater Advisory Task Force in creating a stormwater utility in the PSA. “The task force had many options that we dealt with whether it was a straight tax, get it from a general fund. As a group, we all felt that at this time the best idea would be to create a stormwater utility,” Tedeschi said.

Sapelli explained the different between a stormwater utility fee and a tax in the video. “When you use a tax, a tax is something that goes into the general fund. And I’ll be honest with you, once money goes into the general fund, sometimes it doesn’t go where it was entitled to go or necessarily identified to go. When you have a utility and you put that into a fund, and enterprise fund, then it’s earmarked for that purpose and that purpose only and I think that’s what I’d like to see. I want to make sure that any funding we come up with is specifically identified in the form of a utility and goes to that fund and that fund only and that purpose,” Sapelli said.

The video explained how the stormwater utility fee would be calculated. The amount of stormwater is measured by the number of hard surfaces an area has. The stormwater utility fee would be based on the amount of hard surfaces on a property. Larger properties would pay higher fees. Credits would also be available for properties that utilize “good stormwater management” practices.

At the end of the video, Sapelli said, “I’m confident that everybody will agree that this is a way we must go. And I appreciate your support and cooperation with this well needed project.”

While a fee has not yet been established, the Town of Agawam is currently reviewing potential options for funding stormwater projects. For up-to-date information on the Citizen Stormwater Advisory Task Force, visit http://agawam.ma.us/sw-taskforce.

To view the PSA, visit www.vimeo.com/Agawam.