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 Lack
of detention facility maintenance causes flooding in new development.
What is a Stormwater Detention Facility?
A Detention facility can be either a pond, an underground tank or
vault, or an infiltration system specifically designed to capture, store and
then slowly release stormwater runoff downstream or into the surrounding ground.
Detention Facilities are built to hold the large volumes of water accumulated
during rainy weather.
Why is Stormwater Detention required?
As we cut woodlands, clear land, pave roads and parking lots, and construct
houses and buildings, we change the permeability of the ground. Falling rain has
fewer places to soak in gradually. Runoff on hard surfaces occurs faster and in
greater volumes. Increased stormwater runoff can worsen flooding,
erosion, and water pollution and destroy stream habitat.
Who Maintains these facilities?
Private residential and commercial detention facilities
are required to be maintained by the property owner or Home Owners Association.
Facilities are to be inspected and maintained to ensure they are safe and
function properly.
What's Required?
Typical municipal Subdivision and Land
Development Ordinances require a property owner or Homeowners
Association to develop and implement a maintenance and inspection program for
all privately owned stormwater detention ponds and tanks to assure the proper
operation of these facilities. By law, the owner is required to keep on file
with the municipality the name, address and telephone number of the person or
company responsible for the maintenance and inspection activities. Typically,
this maintenance program involves four (4) annual vegetation maintenance’s
(i.e. mowing, brush cutting, debris removal, etc.) and two (2) annual
inspections.
Can I do my own inspections?
Underground detention facilities require confined
space entry training that the typical maintenance crew does not have. In
addition to this lack of certification, the typical maintenance crew does not
possess the qualifications to provide NICET certified inspection of the
facilities to determine the condition of both above grade (pond) and below grade
(tank) detention facilities
 A
properly maintained Detention Tank outlet orifice in operation.
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