Detention Pond Maintenance
In order to help reduce and prevent
flooding, the City of Athens requires that new development
maintain a zero increase in the discharge rate of storm water
runoff leaving their property as compared to the predeveloped
rate.
Detention Pond Maintanence
1. Pollution
Prevention Plans
Often the easiest and least expensive way to maintain a detention
pond is to develop and implement a pollution prevention plan
at your establishment. A pollution prevention plan drastically
reduces the amount of pollution entering your detention ponds;
thus reducing the amount of time and money necessary to maintain
the ponds.
Important aspects of a pollution
prevention plan:
-
Dry sweep parking lots
on a regular basis. This prevents solids from entering
the pond.
-
Keep kitty litter, sawdust,
or cornmeal handy to absorb small spills. Properly dispose
of the collected material.
-
Materials that could pollute
storm water should be stored inside a protected, roofed
building.
-
Train employees to be aware
of potential storm water pollution and of who they should
inform of potential problems.
2. Maintaining
the pond
-
Conduct routine monthly
inspections.
-
Remove any trash that may
have accumulated.
-
Make sure that the pond’s
banks and bottom are stable. There should be no active
erosion in the pond.
-
Remove excess sediment,
trash or other debris that is blocking the discharge pipes
or emergency spillway.
-
Remove and properly dispose
of any pollutants such as oil that may have been trapped
in the pond.
-
Excessive vegetation such
as willows or other large trees and shrubs should be removed
unless specifically planted as part of your treatment
plan.
3. Sand
Filter Maintainance
Sand filters are designed to
remove and trap pollutants from storm water. In order to be
effective, the following procedures must be followed:
-
Routinely inspect the sand
filter.
-
Keep vegetation growth
on the sand to a minimum by hand removing sprouting vegetation.
-
Rake the upper layer of
sand on a regular basis to loosen the sand and provide
for better infiltration.
-
Remove any oil, grease,
or other pollutant visible on the sand and dispose of
properly.
-
Replace the sand when it
becomes clogged and ineffective.
4. Additional
Detention Pond Hints
-
Do not use pesticides,
herbicides, or fertilizers in your pond. These products
will leach from the pond and pollute our streams and river.
-
Make sure that your pond
is draining properly. Detention ponds are designed to
release storm water slowly not hold the water permanently.
Improperly maintained ponds can harbor breeding areas
for mosquitos and reduce the storage volume of the pond.
-
Do not place yard waste
such as leaves, grass clippings or brush in ponds.
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