From: Stormwater, BMPs, and Vectors: The Impact of New BMP Construction on Local Public Health Agencies
How Can Public Works and Transportation Agencies Benefit From Local Public Health Agency Involvement?
The holistic approach to urban stormwater-quality management now being embraced often fails to take into account the effects of various stormwater improvement devices upon overall public health. However, considering the multitude of BMP structures that will have to be put in place under the new standard urban stormwater mitigation plan regulations, this can no longer be the case. Therefore, it is advisable that consultation regarding potential public health concerns should be sought during the design process.
How can local public works and transportation agencies best interact with local public health agencies?
- Investigate which local public health agency (city-/county-administered program or independent vector-control district) is responsible for vector control in your jurisdiction.
- Contact those agencies and define the guidelines under which public health officials should be consulted regarding your project.
- Form an interagency advisory committee that considers design and site selection before implementation of new structures.
How can local public health agencies help?
- Their extensive knowledge of biology and ecology of various disease vectors will be useful during design plan review. They might be able to detect factors conducive to vector production or harborage that have been overlooked.
- They can provide site/location advice (certain BMP designs might be unsuitable for specific locations—i.e., ecological factors, near schools).
- They can provide monitoring services for a period of time after completion of construction that will help pinpoint features conducive to vector breeding. Improvements can be made based on these observations.
March-April 2002
From: Stormwater, BMPs, and Vectors: The Impact of New BMP Construction on Local Public Health Agencies
How Can Public Works and Transportation Agencies Benefit From Local Public Health Agency Involvement?
The holistic approach to urban stormwater-quality management now being embraced often fails to take into account the effects of various stormwater improvement devices upon overall public health. However, considering the multitude of BMP structures that will have to be put in place under the new standard urban stormwater mitigation plan regulations, this can no longer be the case. Therefore, it is advisable that consultation regarding potential public health concerns should be sought during the design process.How can local public works and transportation agencies best interact with local public health agencies?
- Investigate which local public health agency (city-/county-administered program or independent vector-control district) is responsible for vector control in your jurisdiction.
- Contact those agencies and define the guidelines under which public health officials should be consulted regarding your project.
- Form an interagency advisory committee that considers design and site selection before implementation of new structures.
How can local public health agencies help?
- Their extensive knowledge of biology and ecology of various disease vectors will be useful during design plan review. They might be able to detect factors conducive to vector production or harborage that have been overlooked.
- They can provide site/location advice (certain BMP designs might be unsuitable for specific locations—i.e., ecological factors, near schools).
- They can provide monitoring services for a period of time after completion of construction that will help pinpoint features conducive to vector breeding. Improvements can be made based on these observations.