A vital but often overlooked part of stormwater facility management is the implementation of an annual inspection program. Routine inspections help keep your system functioning properly, which in turn helps to mitigate flooding in your neighborhood and prevents stormwater runoff from polluting downstream waterways. It’s also important to be aware that, in many cases, stormwater facility inspections are required by local and state regulating authorities. In addition to ensuring regulatory compliance and keeping your stormwater system operating to its fullest potential, annual stormwater system inspections will help you identify and fix problems before they become too costly to correct. A routine maintenance program will also help you properly budget for future repairs—because even with the most diligent maintenance program, major structural repairs and dredging of the facilities will ultimately be required. Before implementing an annual stormwater inspection plan, though, there are 4 key questions that should be answered:
- Does your stormwater facility retain, detain or infiltrate stormwater?
- Where and how does water enter the facility?
- Where and how does water exit or discharge into an adjacent stream, wetland or other stormwater facility/system?
- What structural components make up your facility, what are their ages, and of what material are they made?
Creating a Stormwater Management Plan with SOLitude
The stormwater management experts at SOLitude will work with you to help answer each of these questions and will help you determine the best ongoing maintenance and inspection program for your individual system. Depending on the specifics of your stormwater lake or pond, ongoing maintenance activities may include some or all of the following:
- Periodic inspection of inlet pipes and outlet structures for cracks or other damage
- Clearing of the inlet pipes and outlet structures to maintain flow
- Removal of debris from areas where riprap has been installed
- Control of trees and invasive species on the embankment and near inlet and outlet structures
- Completion of regular bathymetric studies to track the buildup of sediment on the bottom of your waterbody over time
Having a management plan that includes annual stormwater inspections will provide you with the valuable information you need to put together long-term maintenance budgets for your facility. So if you’re not conducting annual stormwater inspections as part of your overall stormwater management plan, the time to start is now. The stormwater management professionals at SOLitude are ready to assist.
SOLitude Lake Management is a nationwide environmental firm committed to providing sustainable solutions that improve water quality, enhance beauty and preserve natural resources.
SOLitude’s team of aquatic scientists specializes in the development and execution of customized lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management programs. Services include water quality testing and restoration, algae and aquatic weed control, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, shoreline erosion control, muck and sediment removal and invasive species management. SOLitude partners with homeowners associations, golf courses, private landowners, businesses and municipalities. SOLitude Lake Management is part of Rentokil, a leading business services company, operating across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
For more information, visit SOLitude Lake Management at solitudelakemanagement.com, and connect on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
