Specialized Stormwater Maintenance: Key to Compliance
Routine stormwater maintenance is critical for compliance and health of stormwater control measures.
Stormwater control measures (SCM’s) in HOA communities, commercial developments, and municipalities are designed to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality. Stormwater runoff is created when rain or melting snow flows over paved surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. The runoff picks up and transports pollutants from these hard surfaces. Additionally, runoff creates the threat of flooding and erosion since the water is not able to soak into the ground. Stormwater control measures manage runoff by filtering and removing pollutants, reducing erosion, and providing flood control. The system specifically filters nitrogen, phosphorus, and eroded sediment, which is the biggest waterway pollutant in North Carolina. These functions of the SCM not only benefit the HOA community or area they are placed, but also areas downstream.
Example of a stormwater pond, stormwater control measure, in a North Carolina HOA
Across North Carolina, there has been an increase in the enforcement of stormwater ordinances at the local level. Stormwater control measures must be certified by a professional engineer following construction. Responsibility is then handed over to the HOA and the SCM is subject to annual inspections. Annual inspections will identify any deficiencies that need to be addressed to keep the stormwater system functioning properly and thus compliant.
To avoid notices of violation and/or fines, the stormwater system should be routinely maintained through specialized stormwater maintenance. Specialized stormwater maintenance crews possess the knowledge and experience necessary to keep systems compliant and functioning as designed. In addition to avoiding compliance fines, routine maintenance will also help avoid excess costs in repairs and/or restoration. Non-specialized stormwater crews may inadvertently cause costly issues. Over the years, some of the issues we’ve seen caused by non-specialized crews include cutting beneficial plants, allowing invasive plants and woody vegetation to thrive, utilizing incorrect equipment that has led to damages, and unknowingly allowing issues to worsen and become more costly to repair. In one specific example, a landscaping crew utilized riding mowers to mow the basin of a bioretention causing compaction issues and leading to a costly restoration of the entire system.
This dry pond in a Durham HOA became overgrown over many years due to a lack of stormwater maintenance, requiring a complete restoration to become compliant.
The following list includes services that your monthly maintenance plan MAY include. Services are dependent upon the type of stormwater control measure and the maintenance plan created between the HOA and stormwater management company:
Treatment of invasive grasses, algae, and aquatic weeds
Control of unwanted vegetation in inlets, outlets, and spillway structures
Removal of trash and debris
Cleaning and inspecting of drain, weirs, and riser
Re-Arranging of riprap at inlet and outlet as needed
Maintenance of beneficial littoral plants
Monitoring for potentially harmful wildlife activity
Monitoring conditions favorable to mosquito habitats
Monitoring of fish populations
Mowing and/or weed eating
Visual inspection of all stormwater system components
Cracks in pipes can lead to safety and compliance issues. Routine stormwater maintenance crews should alert you to issues such as this before they cause more damage to your system.
Dangerous sinkhole in a North Carolina HOA due to a leak in a stormwater pipe
HOA communities need to factor eventual repair costs into their budgets. Stormwater devices are constantly changing due to environmental impacts like weather and rain events. Impacts such as these may lead to necessary repairs outside of routine maintenance to bring the stormwater device into compliance. Additionally, repairs may be necessary due to the age of the stormwater device, such as the need for dredging due to sediment accumulating over time. Specialized stormwater maintenance crews will inspect every aspect of your system with each visit and alert the community to any items of concern.
Routine stormwater maintenance is critical for keeping your stormwater control measure healthy, compliant, and functioning as designed. Utilizing a specialized stormwater maintenance company will help HOA communities avoid violations, compliance fines, and unnecessary costly repairs.
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Dragonfly Pond Works is a lake, pond, and stormwater management company. We provide stormwater maintenance, stormwater control measure repair, and more throughout North Carolina, in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Cary, and Wilmington. Our pond and lake maintenance services can be found throughout Florida, in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Naples, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Orlando. We also provide lake and pond maintenance in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Columbia, South Carolina, Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah Georgia. We strive to develop long-term relationships based on quality work, timely service, cost-efficiency, and of course, trust. Please contact us to learn more.
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