7 Common BMP Maintenance Needs - How to Stay on Top

Sediment and erosion control maintenance needs are inevitable on construction sites.
With the nature of construction activity and rainfall events, it is nearly impossible for controls to stay in perfect condition throughout the entire process. However, the more that your team stays on top of maintenance needs and acts proactively, the better the chances are to keep controls functioning and keep your site in compliance.
 
General BMP Inspection Tips: The best way to stay on top of maintenance needs is to conduct routine inspections according to the guidance provided in the Rainwater and Land Development manual. Controls should be inspected daily for general condition and effectiveness. They should also be inspected after each rainfall event and during a prolonged rainfall. If controls aren’t being inspected on a regular basis, it is easy for small maintenance needs to compound and become larger issues over time.
Below are 7 common BMP maintenance needs our urban inspectors see out on site and some tips for staying on top:

1. Downed Silt Fence ​

​Fix Tips: If silt fence is downed, it may be able to be retrenched and wrapped around the stakes again. Ensure silt fence is properly trenched and pulled taught.  If the geotextile material has been damaged, it will need replaced entirely. 

2. Inlet Protection or Curb Stop Damaged 

​Fix Tips: If using a basket or dam style inlet protection, ensure that capture device is secured underneath grate to prevent getting pulled into catch basin or swept into roadway. For curb inlets, ensure that curb stops are installed along rear of the grate to ensure that water cannot enter through the sides or top of the inlet.

3. Compost Filter Socks Flattened / Moved 

​Fix Tips: Replace socks that have been torn or damaged beyond repair. If socks have just become flattened, refill with compost material until they are returned to the appropriate diameter. Encourage your team to use established construction entrances to prevent running over the socks. If the socks are moved for utility or other work on the lot, ensure that they are replaced in the appropriate location as soon as feasible. 

4. Sediment Build Up in Street 

​Fix Tips: Sweep the streets any time you notice a significant amount of tracking occurring. Establish a routine street sweeping schedule to prevent heavy accumulation on roadway. Ensure other practices (such as silt fence or filter socks, proper construction entrances) are in place and functioning to help stop sediment tracking in the first place. 

5. Compost Filter Berms Blown Out 

​Fix Tips: If you notice sediment is overtopping the berms, the sediment may need to be dug out away from the berm area. It’s best practice to keep the sediment deposit level below ½ of the height of mulch berms or silt fence. If a heavy rainfall knocks down a portion of the berm, make sure that berms are built back up to meet the specifications outlined in the RWLD manual. 

6. Maintain Construction Entrance 

​Fix Tips: ODOT 1/2s should be used for construction entrances. Smaller gravel tends to get swept into the roadway with sediment. If the incorrect aggregate is used, this will need to be revised to prevent off site tracking. If a construction entrance is regularly used, the aggregate may need to be replaced to provide ample area to kick sediment off wheels. 

7. Concrete Washout Area Full / Needs Cleaned Up 

​Fix Tips: Concrete washout pits should be emptied on a regular basis to prevent overflowing. If pits are dug out in the ground, they should be lined with a tarp to prevent leaching into bare soils. If the liner gets damaged or rolled up, it needs to be readjusted or replaced. The pit should have four walls around (typically lined straw bales). If the walls of the pit are compromised, they need to be rebuilt or replaced. 

BMP Spotlight Example from the Field:
​Staying on Top of BMP Maintenance 

Greg Fuller, Project Manager, and his team at Ryan Homes have done a great job of staying on top of sediment and erosion control maintenance needs in Villages of Classicway 7B in Hamilton Township. From the beginning of the project, Greg has kept in contact with our team at WCSWCD to address any deficiencies on site in a timely manner.  The team at Ryan Homes keeps a plan set posted in the model home on-site with pins to denote areas where BMPs require maintenance. With all the different tasks to manage on a construction site, this type of mapping can be a helpful tool and visual for teams to prioritize areas that require the most attention and prevent maintenance needs from progressing into larger problems.  Ryan Homes also had a great system for record keeping. The inspection logs were neatly organized and stored in binders in a safe, dry area. This is crucial as monthly site inspection logs are to be kept for 3 years according to the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan requirements. 

These are the results of staying on top of BMP maintenance!

​Resources:
Rainwater and Land Development Manual:
https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/surface-water/guides-manuals/rainwater-and-land-development