Stormwater Maintenance
Stormwater Ponds – Guidelines for Maintenance
Infiltration Basins – Guidelines for Maintenance
Bioretention Basins – Guidelines for Maintenance
Stormwater Awareness Information Session for Landowners Video
Stormwater Facility Maintenance Day – April 22nd
Landowner Resources for Neighborhood Stormwater Facility Maintenance
Washington County hosted two in-person and one virtual informational session to talk to landowners about stormwater runoff and practices in their neighborhoods that capture stormwater runoff. Confused? Click on the recorded video above to watch the informational session!
Stormwater runoff is rainwater that does not infiltrate/soak into the ground. It is rainwater that flows over grass, bare ground, driveways, roads, roofs, through gutters before flowing into storm drains or the nearest waterway. Since stormwater runoff flows over multiple surfaces before it gets to a storm drain or waterway, it can pick up excess pollutants such as dirt, grease, and trash before entering a storm drain or waterway. Storm drains deliver large volumes of water to streams much faster than would occur naturally, resulting in flooding and bank erosion. Stream inhabitants such as fish, salamanders, or mussels are stressed, displaced, or killed by the warm, fast moving water and the sediment or pollutants it brings with it.
Stormwater practices such as stormwater retention ponds and infiltration basins collect stormwater runoff and capture sediment and other pollutants carried by stormwater runoff. These practices act as a filter, and cleaner water is then slowly discharged to a waterway. Stormwater practices are a key piece in keeping Washington Counties waterway’s clean and healthy as they intercept potentially harmful stormwater runoff from directly flowing into a nearby waterway.
If you have a stormwater practice in your neighborhood, click on the above “Guidelines for Maintenance” links to see how you can help keep your stormwater practice functioning and doing its job to keep our waters clean!
Image Credit: Saint Francis University
Stormwater Facility Maintenance Day – April 22nd
Washington County is encouraging landowners to complete annual maintenance of their neighborhood stormwater ponds and basins on Earth Day, April 22nd. Staff will be on-call if you have any questions or want us to visit your stormwater practice.
uGet together with neighbors in the morning or afternoon to do some maintenance on your stormwater pond or basin
- Remember safety; watch the informational session for some safety tips
uCounty Staff will be around that day to answer questions
uPro-active maintenance will reduce costs in the long run
uShare photos via facebook event or email
uReport any issues or larger maintenance needs to the County