Goal: Eliminate damage to public health and property from natural and other hazards
Our community will be safer when we floodproof or remove structures from the floodway, clean up contaminated sites rather than paving them over, and reduce the threat of lead poisoning in homes.
Safe Community Indicators
State of Our Environment 2007
The City of Ann Arbor is undertaking steps to reduce threats to the community and environment from natural and man-made hazards. Development creates impervious surfaces that increase flooding. Development in floodplains creates impediments to flood flows and potential hazards for residents in these structures. Contamination from abandoned commercial sites threatens groundwater and may infiltrate into neighboring structures. Emergency planning helps reduce the impacts from unanticipated spills and accidents that could threaten residents and the environment.
Related Indicators
What the City of Ann Arbor is Doing
- The city developed a Flood Mitigation Plan to guide and identify priority projects to mitigate flood hazards. A floodplain ordinance is under developement.
- City participation in the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority - Developers requesting Brownfield Tax Increment Financing must propose removal of contamination.
- New Stormwater rates create incentives for stormwater reduction efforts.
- Key City staff from all Service Areas have been trained in the Incident Command System and other emergency management training programs.
- City staff place larvacide in city stormbasins to reduce breeding of mosquitoes that could carry West Nile Virus.
You Can Help
- Dispose of products safely. Don’t pour household toxics such as oil, paint and pesticides down the drain. These chemicals could harm the microorganisms that are used to treat the water.
- Use phosphate-free laundry detergent. This reduces the amount of phosphorous that must be removed at the waste water treatment plant. Most liquid detergents are phosphate free; just check the label.
- Do not flush unused medications. Over the counter and prescription medicines have been found in rivers. Disposing of unused medication in the trash will reduce the levels entering the wastewater plant and being discharged into the river. Read the County's publication on proper prescription drug and personal care product disposal.