Community Impact - Montgomery County drainage improvement

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Across the Houston area, there are solutions being tossed around to prevent future flooding, according to our partners with Community Impact Newspaper The Woodlands edition.

Ivan Militiev’s two homes in Timber Lakes Timber Ridge flooded for the second time in as many months. 

“We just finished rebuilding the house, and water came and destroyed it all over again.  We had new appliances, new floors, new everything,” said Militiev.

Studies are in the works to improve the drainage system in Montgomery County, but they’re up against cost and a lack of a flood control district.

“People who don’t flood don’t want another taxing entity to accommodate flooding," said Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal. "We’re seeing more and more people start to flood, though, so it may be something we need to revisit.” 

“Well, I think it’s obviously a concern,” said Jeff Taebel with the Houston-Galveston Area Council. He also said there could be a better looking, even cheaper solution to deal with drainage.

“What we're trying to promote with low impact development is using natural systems to do what today we're using concrete and pipe to do,” added Taebel. He and the Houston-Galveston Area Council have just released a guide for local governments and developers.

Successful examples include rain gardens at Queenston Manor, underground storage tanks on Birnham Wood in Spring and a Houston fire station with pavement that actually absorbs water. 

“Wherever we have a chance to filter storm water before it gets back into the bayou and water system, we should try to take it. "

The council is forecasting by the year 2040 that the Houston area will grow by 3.5 million people.

“We are forecasting we would need another 230 NRG stadium parking lots to accommodate all those cars,” said Taebel.