Chances are if you’ve lived in South Florida long enough, you’re heard someone refer to a “swale”. A swale is the grassy area of land that stretches from the edge of the sidewalk in front of homes (or the property line if there is no sidewalk) to the edge of the street.

Swales are a commonly used stormwater management tool. They slow down the flow of stormwater and allow runoff to pond temporarily while it slowly percolates into the ground. In doing so, this helps filter pollutants from stormwater, and it helps protect lives and property by minimizing flooding.

Swales perform an important stormwater management function, but they differ from berms/barriers and ditches in that a swale slopes gently away from property and swales tend to be wider than they are deep.

Although swales are public property—by law, property owners adjacent to the swale are required to maintain it.

But you should keep your swale maintained not only because it’s the law, but because:

• A well-kept swale looks good and helps maintain property values.
• A swale that does its job properly protects your home and your neighbors’ homes by helping to minimize flooding when it rains.
• Swales also help protect the environment—and our drinking water supply—by acting as filters to remove or reduce pollutants that get washed up by stormwater.

Properly maintaining your swale area is easy and will help you to reduce street flooding in your neighborhood:

• Mow the swale area regularly to keep grass healthy and under control.
• Use as little fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides as possible on both your lawn and the swale area.
• Avoid over watering the swale area. If water is standing in the swale when it has not rained, reduce irrigation.
• Keep swales free of litter, branches, leaves and limbs; do not plant shrubs or hedges along the swale so water can soak into the ground.
• Do not pave or lay asphalt/cement on your swale area unless it is for a permitted driveway approach.
• Avoid parking cars on the swale; this compacts the soil and prevents stormwater from soaking into the ground.
• Do not build-up, flatten, or create a peak in the swale to avoid puddling. Altering a swale may disrupt its natural drainage features.
• City and FP&L permits are required for the planting of any trees in swales.

Report illegal dumping on or in swales/storm drains/sewer systems, clogged storm drains, or overflowing manholes by calling 954-730-2960 during office hours (Monday – Thursday from 7:30am – 6:00pm). After business hours, you can call the Water Treatment Plant at 954-730-2972.