Orange City advances $19M-$27M stormwater project to reduce flooding

Orange City is moving forward with a multi-million-dollar stormwater project aimed at significantly improving the city's ability to drain floodwaters from some of its most flood-prone neighborhoods, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando reported.

Residents near Mill Lake Park have experienced frequent flooding during heavy rains, sometimes leaving properties underwater. They say new housing developments have worsened the problem. Flooding has been a persistent issue, with Hurricane Milton in 2024 causing water to remain in homes and streets for days, and washing out roads in the area.

To address this, Orange City and Volusia County plan to connect existing drainage systems to a new pump station located on West French Avenue. This new station would have the capacity to move over 33 times more water than the current pump, representing a substantial increase in floodwater management capability.

The project has an estimated cost between $19 million and $27 million depending on the construction option chosen. Residents like Tammy Robertson hope the investment will prevent future flood damage and ease the difficulties experienced during heavy rain events.

While the project promises improved flood control, some neighbors remain concerned about whether it will fully resolve the flooding issues that have affected their community for years.