Managing Stormwater at Remote Properties

Stormwater management at your place of business requires careful planning. Remote management of these systems adds difficulty, especially for out-of-area properties. Is it possible to do it effectively? Yes, here is how.

Understanding the Unique Challenges of Managing Stormwater at Locations Where You Cannot Be Present

Several problems contribute to the challenges of stormwater management for out-of-area properties. Depending on your knowledge of the local environment and weather patterns, you may be caught off guard by unique stormwater concerns, such as heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or dry spells that suddenly lead to flash floods.

Moreover, you have to navigate local regulations and laws. Managing a property outside your usual operation area can prove difficult. Even if you have put the required infrastructure in place, it is challenging to maintain it well.

Storm drain maintenance means that you will work with local contractors who understand the region's specific needs. It adds a layer of complexity in terms of vetting, communication, and ensuring that the work meets your standards. Also, who will regularly monitor and maintain your stormwater systems and handle additional needed stormwater management for out-of-area properties?

The good news is that effectively managing stormwater at out-of-area properties is possible with the right planning and strong local partnerships.

Putting Needed Infrastructure in Place

Of course, before stormwater management comes the installation of infrastructure, each property's needs are different. You may have a commercial retail space with a large parking lot, or you may be renting out a single-family home in another town. Stormwater management requires a customized approach. Depending on your location's unique setup, consider one or more methods.

Manage Stormwater With Green Infrastructure

Your property could be ideally suited for simple adjustments to its setups.

1. Rain gardens. Shallow, planted depressions collect and absorb runoff from roofs or driveways.
2. Green roofs. Vegetated roofs absorb rainwater and reduce runoff.
3. Permeable pavement. Pavement materials that allow water to pass through reduce runoff and increase groundwater recharge.

Managing Stormwater With Traditional Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is wonderful but also labor-intensive. For a slightly more traditional approach, you cannot go wrong with a system including catch basins, conveyance lines, filters, and ponds.

1. Catch Basins. These are typically where stormwater will enter a system and are what sits beneath the drain grates you see on the surface. 
2. Conveyance Lines. These are the pipes that transport stormwater from structure to structure in your system. Stormwater is conveyed from catch basins towards downstream structures. 
3. Filter Vaults. Various filters are designed to clean different pollutants from stormwater before they leave the system. 
4. Detention ponds. These temporarily hold stormwater during high rain events and release it slowly to reduce the risk of flooding.
5. Retention ponds. These hold water permanently, with extra capacity to store runoff during heavy rainfall. 

Depending on what is happening at your remote property, you may have to invest in filters that keep chemicals out of the ground. Regular checkups are necessary to submit mandated municipal reports. Specifically, industrial properties and construction sites in Washington must prepare SWPPPs and submit them for regular testing to ensure pollutants are not entering the system. 

Stormwater Drains, Culverts, and Channels

Many property managers look to traditional drainage systems with catch basins, conveyance lines, and drains that direct stormwater through the system. Culverts and channels are other options when you want to actively direct runoff away from properties to retention areas. They are typically seen in areas with multiple structures, such as apartment complexes or school campuses.

Inspecting, Cleaning, and Maintaining Your Stormwater Infrastructure

Regularly maintaining stormwater systems involves more than clearing debris from drains, keeping vegetation healthy, and preventing blockages. You would not typically entrust this task to your on-site maintenance team without support from a qualified vendor. Stormwater management for out-of-area properties relies on a strong relationship with a local expert in storm drain care.

Expertise and Regulatory Compliance

Working with a local expert in the field means that you have someone who knows and understands local weather patterns. They use the latest techniques and tools. Most importantly, these technicians understand how to work with systems of varying designs to keep them effective and compliant. They will not be caught off-guard by sudden weather events.

Remember that stormwater management is subject to strict regulations to protect the environment and prevent flooding. Local experts are well-versed in these requirements and follow them to the letter. Your on-site maintenance crew may need additional support to ensure your regulatory compliance regarding storm drains in the way that local governing bodies require.

Quality Assurance With an Eye on Long-Term Performance

High-quality work, durable materials, and proven methods characterize local stormwater management companies that care about their customers. Working with a reputable firm minimizes the risk of expensive repairs or system failures. 

The goal is a long-term business relationship between you, the customer, and the storm management expert. All maintenance services ensure continued performance and work to address issues before they become serious problems. Experts notice small things and tackle them immediately. This reduces the need for costly repairs, prevents flooding and erosion, and lowers water-related property damage.

CatchAll Environmental Designs Custom Solutions

Our stormwater management firm provides custom solutions tailored to your property's specific needs. Whether it is a complex commercial site or a remote property, we develop strategies that suit the unique challenges of the location. In this capacity, we have collaborated with homeowner associations, tribal communities, healthcare facility managers, and property owners who do business from far away.

We serve the Seattle and Puget Sound areas with catch basin cleaning, wet vault cleaning, bioswale remediation, and video pipe inspections. Our technicians use the latest technology and equipment to maintain your stormwater infrastructure.

We are an established company with a proven track record of success. We provide guaranteed service and handle spot as well as routine inspections and cleanings. You have peace of mind knowing that your property is in capable hands, no matter the weather at the location. Find out how our CatchAll system handles unforeseen complications and maintains your stormwater systems to the highest standards. Call us today!