Manteca’s storm system — that for the most part has been working flawlessly for years — is being looked at to make sure new growth doesn’t create problems.
The city is working with the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to make sure that storm run-off being sent into the drainage canal along the Union Pacific tracks separating Manteca from Lathrop and flows north into the French camp Slough and ultimately the San Joaquin River will be able to accommodate growth.
Manteca is also working with Oakwood Lake Shores — the gated 480-home community built where the Manteca  Waterslides once stood — to see if future storm run-off as southwest Manteca develops could be sent to the river into or around the gated community’s lakes and into the San Joaquin River. 
 At the same time Oakwood Shores is looking to send wastewater to the city’s treatment plant as the one serving the community is being taxed.
The $180,000 cost of a feasibility study is being split by the city and Oakwood Lake Water District.
Manteca’s storm water system has eliminated flooding — save for localized issues that happen when drains get clogged with debris during downpours — due to efforts over the years to build a series of storm retention basins in parks and oversizing storm pipes serving central Manteca.
When SSJID canals are unable to handle storm runoff due to volume, water flows into the basins. A telemetry system keeps track of water flows in canals and — when space is created — releases water from the basins back into the storm system.
It has eliminated yearly flooding problems that often occurred given Manteca’s flat terrain during steady periods of rain or during cloudbursts.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com