Post-Winter Stormwater Inspection Tips

Protecting Washington’s aquatic natural resources is everyone’s business. If you are in charge of stormwater management for a industrial site, commercial site, multi-family site, or HOA, doing so is particularly important. When the winter is finally over, it is a good time to evaluate how your stormwater system did this last season. Here are several post-winter stormwater inspection tips to include in your spring cleaning activities this year.

Understanding the Urgency of Pollution Prevention and Erosion Control

Local water quality is directly related to adequate stormwater management practices. In Washington, water quality is particularly important for the state’s fish and wildlife population. However, there is also a need for slowing down stormwater runoff. When stormwater structures fail, fast moving water erodes natural areas and can cause significant damage.

Stormwater inspections focus on the efficiency of filtering water, keeping pollutants out, and gauging the effectiveness of erosion control techniques. In addition to being good for the environment, regular stormwater infrastructure inspections are also money-saving endeavors.

• Identify problems when they are still small and less expensive to fix.
• Keep systems in excellent shape to prepare for the next big storm.
• Prevent flooding that may cause extensive damage to your property and items stored there.

Possible Problems an Inspection Could Reveal

Post-winter stormwater inspection tips are critical to the amount of wear that the winter can cause, even to the best infrastructure. In Washington, we experience moderate-to-heavy rain all winter. Loose soil, vegetation, and other debris on the ground can be swept along by stormwater during severe storms. This can lead to blockages.

Catch Basin Issues

Another item to check is any catch basin on the property. Sediment builds up, which means it is time to clean. Do you know how much sediment you are already dealing with? As a general rule of thumb, exceeding 60% of the basin’s capacity could render a system structure ineffective, quickly resulting in flooding during the next storm. Municipalities also have different compliance requirements, with some requiring cleaning at 20%, 30%, or 40% levels.

Bioswale Problems

If you incorporate a bioswale in your system, remember that its effectiveness is directly linked to the health of its vegetation and appropriate sloping. Dying or unhealthy vegetation will significantly reduce the bioswale’s ability to function. Sediment, dirt, and debris can build up affecting the slope of the bioswale. If this occurs, earthwork may be required. An inspection will inform you about this issue before the next storm hits.

Adequate or Blocked Pipes

Of course, the most critical part of an inspection is the overall functioning of the system’s pipes - called conveyance linesSediment and trash may block these pipes. Even if sediment is not a problem, tree roots could have invaded the pipes, creating blockages that need more than a good flushing to remove.

Working With the Experts in the Field to Handle the Stormwater Inspection and Subsequent Findings

The most important of our post-winter stormwater inspection tips involves partnering with experts in stormwater system maintenance. It should be an integral part of your stormwater management plan. What does this look like?

The initial inspection typically involves creating a map of your stormwater system. A team of stormwater experts may photograph structures, measure sediment, and evaluate the overall condition of your site. Implementing best management practices, and annual inspections, will help bring your system up to par. Your site may benefit from:

• Pipe jetting.
• Catch basin cleaning and sediment removal.
• Bioswale remediation and repair.
• Grout and asphalt repairs as needed.

Once these steps have been taken, specialists will handle any municipal reporting you may need to do. Just as important is that you can work with these technicians to ensure guaranteed compliance with your stormwater infrastructure.

Should You Add Employee Training or Retraining to Your Inspection Activities?

How did grass clipping and leaves end up in the stormwater pipes? Could workers have washed them down the drain to keep walkways looking nice during landscaping and weekly cleanup activities? If so, your workers should remember that all detritus and trash must stay out of the stormwater system. Educating vendors, contractors, and on-site staff is extremely beneficial for reducing these issues.

It is critical to review chemical and trash storage on the property, to ensure that it does not impact your stormwater system. You probably already have written procedures that spell out toxin storage and disposal policies. Over time, employees may have begun to forego some steps to save time. Consider retraining employees to ensure current rules are followed. And if the rules have not been appropriately documented, now is the time to do so.

A Special Word of Caution for Construction Sites That Paused or Remained Active in Winter

Appropriate stormwater management was likely part of the application for construction permits. But because things change quickly in construction, you may now deal with unintended consequences of erosion, sediment buildup, and similar problems. An expert stormwater inspection will help you uncover areas where drainage is compromised, and you need to find ways to stabilize the site to minimize drainage.

CatchAll Environmental Assists With all Stormwater Inspection Aspects

With winter in the rearview mirror, now is the time to see how your stormwater system is holding up. It is also a good time to make any repairs needed to prepare it for the earlier rains. Invite our team to visit for a stormwater system evaluation so you can have all of the information needed to make the right decision for your property.

After we have done an inspection, we will gladly assist you with any cleaning or remediation that is needed for ongoing storm drain protection. Call us today to schedule an appointment!