MONROE - Vacuuming streets is not just good housekeeping: It will help prevent the need to build more retention ponds in the city, according to Al Gerber, Monroe's engineering supervisor.
The Monroe Common Council Tuesday unanimously authorized the stormwater utility to purchase a 2013 Elgin Whirlwind street sweeper for $238,000.
The sweeper has a high power vacuum with a 6-inch diameter opening, which will remove more dirt from the streets and improve the city's rate of suspended solids in run-off water, according to Gerber.
Gerber said the reduced suspended solids will cut the city's future need to retrofit or build 10 retention ponds at an estimated cost of $1 million. The ponds hold back excess runoff water, but the suspended solids that enter with it bring pollutants and create thick sedimentation.
The new vacuum/sweeper will give the city 1.8 additional percentage points in the Department of Natural Resource's calculations for reducing suspended solids from water run-off, bringing the city up to a 32.2 percent reduction.
The city's 2010 master plan set a goal of reducing suspended solids by 40 percent by the year 2013 - a goal originally set for it set by the DNR in early 2000. Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 halted the DNR stormwater standard for further reductions above federal law standards to alleviate municipal costs to comply.
But Gerber said the city has continued to reach for its personal goal, partly to save money in the future, although the 2013 deadline is not hard set anymore, he added.
The city will retain its old street sweeper for a backup and for gentler sweeping of newly-coated streets.
The new sweeper is a budgeted item. The Stormwater Utility has about $760,000 in reserve funds.
The Monroe Common Council Tuesday unanimously authorized the stormwater utility to purchase a 2013 Elgin Whirlwind street sweeper for $238,000.
The sweeper has a high power vacuum with a 6-inch diameter opening, which will remove more dirt from the streets and improve the city's rate of suspended solids in run-off water, according to Gerber.
Gerber said the reduced suspended solids will cut the city's future need to retrofit or build 10 retention ponds at an estimated cost of $1 million. The ponds hold back excess runoff water, but the suspended solids that enter with it bring pollutants and create thick sedimentation.
The new vacuum/sweeper will give the city 1.8 additional percentage points in the Department of Natural Resource's calculations for reducing suspended solids from water run-off, bringing the city up to a 32.2 percent reduction.
The city's 2010 master plan set a goal of reducing suspended solids by 40 percent by the year 2013 - a goal originally set for it set by the DNR in early 2000. Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 halted the DNR stormwater standard for further reductions above federal law standards to alleviate municipal costs to comply.
But Gerber said the city has continued to reach for its personal goal, partly to save money in the future, although the 2013 deadline is not hard set anymore, he added.
The city will retain its old street sweeper for a backup and for gentler sweeping of newly-coated streets.
The new sweeper is a budgeted item. The Stormwater Utility has about $760,000 in reserve funds.