WEIRTON — The city is hoping to replace a portion of the stormwater collection system which serves the community, with a proposal set to go before City Council tonight which would authorize the application for grant funding in support of the effort.

Weirton’s stormwater collection system treats a combined 59,333 acres of land, according to the proposed resolution being considered — including 12,504 acres within the city limits and the remaining 46,826 acres outside of the city. Stormwater systems are designed to collect rainwater runoff from paved areas, transporting it through a system of pipes to be discharged into a nearby body of water such as the Ohio River.

“The city operates and maintains the stormwater system, containing sections that are outdated and aging, including a section of stormwater pipe approximately 1,280 feet in length running from Wall Street to Liberty Avenue along county Road 2 that is currently inoperable and is in need of repair and/or replacement,” notes the resolution.

To assist with the replacement of that portion of the system, the city hopes to apply for a grant of $50,000 through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Clean Water State Revolving Fund, with the money, if awarded, to be used toward the costs of completing an inflow and infiltration study, closed-circuit television camera inspection, and preliminary engineering report of the area.

Those studies will identify issues within that section of the stormwater system and be a step toward completing the necessary upgrades.

If approved by council tonight, the application would be made through, and the funding administered by, the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, which is recognizes as the regional planning and development council under the codes of the W.Va. DEP.

Weirton Council will meet at 7 p.m. today in the council chambers of the Weirton Municipal Building.