Private Stormwater Management Systems

Stormwater Systems

Any location in the City that has roads, rooftops, parking lots, or driveways likely has a system of inlets and pipes that collects water from these areas and conveys this stormwater to a manmade pond or basin where this water is stored. 

These systems can be owned by a local municipality, county, the state, or may be owned by a business, neighborhood, property manager, or an individual. These systems require proper maintenance to ensure they are functioning as designed, have adequate flood protection, and to reduce the amount of pollutants leaving the system. 

Many of the stormwater systems in the City are permitted by the St. Johns River Water Management District under an Environmental Resource Permit. An entity responsible for maintaining the stormwater system can reference this permit for inspection and maintenance procedures to ensure the system is operating as designed. 

Below are examples of common inspection activities for several structures:

Dry Retention Systems

  • Inspect for debris/litter/sediment accumulation at inflow/outflow structures, trash racks, other associated components and on the bottom to prevent loss of storage volume or impacts on flow or operation.
  • Inspect for erosion/subsidence on embankment or side slopes.
  • Inspect for proper storage volume recovery after rainfall.
  • Inspect for undercutting, settling or damage at inflow/outflow structures, diversion devices and other system components to prevent impacts on operation of the system.
  • Inspect for vegetation at bottom and side slopes to ensure vegetation is healthy and maintaining coverage.
  • Inspect for compaction or obstructed flow.

Wet Detention Systems

  • Inspect for aquatic plant growth to prevent loss of storage volume or impacts on flow or operation.
  • Inspect side slopes to ensure vegetation is healthy and maintaining coverage.
  • Inspect littoral plantings and vegetative buffers as designed.
  • Inspect for debris/litter/sediment accumulation at inflow/outflow structures and on the bottom to prevent loss of storage volume or impacts on flow or operation.
  • Inspect for erosion/subsidence on embankment or side slopes.
  • Inspect for storage volume recovery after rainfall.
  • Inspect for undercutting, settling or damage at inflow/outflow structures.

Inlets and Pipes

  • Inspect for debris/litter/sediment accumulation that would prevent proper flow conditions or storage volume 
  • Inspect for cracks or leaks into pipe or at joint of pipe and inlet structure 
  • Inspect for signs of crumbling in pipe or depressions above pipe indicating a potential structural failure of pipe and safety hazard

For more information on stormwater management systems please go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Menu of Best Management Practices or Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) ERP Stormwater page.