Detention Pond Maintenance Tips and Stormwater Quality Permit
Most counties and cities require annual inspections and periodic re- permitting of detention and retention ponds. SSCI can assist you in renewing your annual Houston Public Works Stormwater Quality Permit.
Essential Pond Maintenance Tips
Be sure your contractor understands and can remediate ALL violations for your failed facility (i.e. a landscaper may re-vegetate well, but they may not be the best option if you have other maintenance issues). Specific violations are noted on the inspection report page and on the code form page in your information packet. Ponds must be restored to ALL design specifications.
Definitions of Ponds
- Wet detention pond: a pond designed to have a remaining permanent pool of water after a storm event. (Amenity Pond)
- Dry detention pond: a pond designed to NOT have a significant pool of water remaining after a storm event.
- Regional Pond: a pond designed to capture stormwater runoff from a larger, regional area.
- Water Quality Pond: a detention pond with an orifice sized to allow time for settling and filtering of pollutants before the runoff is discharged from the pond.
- Tributary drainage area: the total land area that drains to the pond.
- Impervious area: a solid surface that does not allow rain to be absorbed into the soil.
What is the Purpose of a Detention Pond?
Detention ponds are used primarily to reduce peak stormwater runoff rates by providing temporary storage during larger storm events and in some instances improve the quality of runoff from roads, parking lots, residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial sites prior to discharge of runoff into the receiving streams. In addition, the detention pond on your property may provide other benefits such as passive recreation and open space opportunities in addition to reducing peak runoff rates and improving water quality. A functioning detention pond is a requirement for stormwater management.
Who's Responsible for your Pond?
Designation of a Responsible Party is important to ensure proper operation of your detention pond features. In some instances, this may be a shared responsibility. The commercial property owner and/or the HOA is responsible for the correct operation and proper maintenance of the pond. (SSCI can serve as your Responsible Party!)
Why Maintain your Pond?
The amount of stormwater runoff from a watershed can change as a result of development in the area. The increased volumes of flow result from added impervious areas and changes in the natural flow patterns. Cattails, contour changes, and erosion reduce a pond's capacity and negatively impact stormwater risks for your property and properties downstream.
Why Some Ponds Fail?
Studies show that poor operation and maintenance is the leading cause of pond failure. Poor maintenance can also create unpleasant odors, nuisance insects, algae blooms and a generally unsightly, unkept area. Detention Ponds may fail due to:
- poor vegetation maintenance in terms of mowing and weed control
- clogged inlets resulting from trash, debris, and sediment accumulation
- failed side slopes
- inadequate access for routine maintenance activities
Minimum checklist component
A good time to fill out a "maintenance needed" checklist is every time routine maintenance is done; the mower, for example, can report on pond conditions and other features, such as:
- Any obstructions of the inlet or outlet or orifice?
- Trash accumulated in the pond or on the rack?
- Erosion or instability on the slopes?
- Any sedimentation in the basin?
- Any settling or cracking of the berm areas?
- Any changed upstream or downstream conditions that could affect pond operation?
Our Detention and Retention Pond services are detailed on our website at: https://sscienvironmental.com/retention-detention-ponds/