The article, "Pondering steps to prevent the next one" (Aug. 2), indicates Howard County is trying to mange water flow. In my experience, increasing the tax base is more of a concern to the county than controlling the water flow. In my neighborhood, we have a high water table and wetlands. Our homes have large lots that allow rain water to be absorbed. The county allowed three houses to be added on the lot of an existing house to increase the tax base. The new houses and driveways forced the rain water to now flood the lawn of another house that was there previously and then flow into a stream.
There are wetlands behind our house. The county said that developers can now build 77 townhouses on these wetlands that previously absorbed the runoff from the higher elevations. The developer says everything will be all right because the townhouses will not have basements since the basements would flood. Also, they are putting in 12 holding ponds to control the rain water. I am sure when we have an exceptionally heavy rain, the first floor of the townhouses will flood and the holding ponds will overflow into the stream at the bottom and cause problems for people downstream. Again, the tax base will increase, but water problems will also increase.
Stanley J. Glinka, Ellicott City