Inspection and maintenance of infiltration facilities

This paper reports the results of a 1990 field survey of stormwater infiltration facilities constructed in Maryland pursuant to the Stormwater Management Act. The study replicates investigations conducted in 1986. Types of facilities inspected include infiltration basins and trenches, dry wells, porous pavement facilities, and vegetative swales. Analysis of field inspections reveals that the condition of facilities declined significantly in four years. Half the facilities are not functioning as designed, and two-thirds of the facilities need maintenance. Dry wells and trenches are shown to be functioning as designed more frequently and to need less maintenance than porous pavement facilities and infiltration basins. The need for improvements in inspection and maintenance is noted.