GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Public Works Department recently purchased a new Vac-Con Single Engine Combination Machine to help with the ongoing maintenance of stormwater drainage systems in the county and to prepare for hurricane season.

Clay County now has two Vac-Con units the Public Works team uses to regularly clear out stormwater systems. This specialized piece of equipment can identify where a clog or defect is in the storm drain, so crews can clear the line or make any needed repairs. Last year upgrades were made to the camera unit, so crews can also send a small camera inside the storm pipe and determine the extent of any damage that needs to be repaired.

All components of the stormwater systems are carefully inspected and cleaned. Special attention is given to clearing debris out of retention ponds and underground drainage structures that carry stormwater away from streets and houses to retention ponds. Drainage systems in areas of the county that have experienced localized flooding in the past are given priority for cleanout. Other areas are prioritized when residents call in with drainage issues.

The Vac-Cons have a 180-degree articulating hose reel with 600 feet of three-quarter-inch hose and a nozzle that sprays highly pressurized water through a storm pipe to loosen any mud, leaves, sticks, or other debris that may be clogging the pipes. The vacuum hose then draws the water and loosened debris back into a storage tank on the unit for proper disposal. In the field, the Vac-Con can be easily refilled at a fire hydrant.

The stormwater system is flushed clean at each access point all the way to the outlet at the stormwater pond to ensure runoff can flow unobstructed, and the system can handle the heavy downpours associated with tropical storms.

“Commissioners have made it a priority to provide our Public Works department with the equipment they need to keep our stormwater systems functioning properly, and this new Vac-Con unit is a great investment for Clay County,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Wayne Bolla.