Post-Construction Structural BMPs

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Quick Link: Maintenance Verification Form

Stormwater post-construction best management practices

Also known as the city’s Structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) program element, post-construction stormwater management requires reducing pollution by incorporating various systems into the overall project. All existing and future development and redevelopment projects must comply with this program element.

While effective stormwater and water quality management begins during the design phase of new construction and redevelopment projects, post-construction best management practices typically allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground and/or treat the stormwater to remove various pollutants prior to discharge.

Some of the more common pollutants that these systems manage include: sediments, chemicals, oils and grease, metals, and nutrients, as well as erosion and flooding. In order to ensure regulatory compliance we recommend that the following pertinent regulatory documents be reviewed prior to plan submission.

Post-construction Structural BMP maintenance

Regular maintenance of structural BMPs is essential to ensure they are in working condition. Every year, the city sends property owners forms in order to verify their structural BMPs are maintained and operating properly. Please complete a maintenance verification form if you have received notice to do so.

Structural BMP examples

Below are the more common types of structural BMPs, as well as typical maintenance procedures.

Drain Inserts

Drain inserts are manufactured structural BMPs which are placed within a storm drain inlet to remove sediment, trash, and debris.
Drain inserts are made in various shapes and configurations, to fit within all the various storm drain inlet types.
Typical maintenance activities include: removing accumulated sediment and debris, removing accumulated trash, clearing compacted sediment from the mesh screen, replacement of filter packs, if necessary.

drain-insert-1 drain-insert-2

Bioretention

Bioretention areas are pervious areas with specific vegetation or rock cover and soil media.Trash, debris, and sediment settle at the top of the basin.
Stormwater infiltrates through the soil media, which is specifically designed to remove pollutants.The treated water then either enters native soils or is discharged through an underdrain depending on the design.
Typical maintenance activities include: removing accumulated trash and debris, landscaping activities to ensure healthy vegetation, preventing and repairing erosion.

Bioretention-1 Bioretention-2

Swales

Swales are open, shallow channels with vegetation and/or gravel that collect and slowly convey stormwater flow to a downstream discharge point.
Swales treat stormwater runoff by filtering through the vegetation along the length of the swale.Debris, sediment, and trash settle on the surface of the vegetated swale for removal.
Typical maintenance activities include: removing accumulated trash and debris, landscaping activities to ensure healthy vegetation, preventing and repairing erosion.

swales-1 swales-2

Hydrodynamic Separators

Hydrodynamic Separators are manufactured structural BMPs that use cyclonic separation to remove pollutants from stormwater.
The swirling vortex of water will cause floatable pollutants, such as trash, debris, and oil, to rise to the top.Other pollutants settle to the bottom of the sump.
Typical maintenance activities include: using a vactor truck to remove floatable and settled pollutants.

Hydrodynamic-Separator-1 Hydrodynamic-Separator-2

For more information on the required maintenance for the structural BMP installed on your property, refer to your property’s recorded Maintenance Agreement and/or Water Quality Technical Report, the documentation provided from the manufacturer, Project Clean Water maintenance fact sheets, or the County of San Diego’s fact sheets. You can also access Project Clean Water and County of San Diego’s fact sheets.

Resources

Projects in the planning and/or development phase (Coming Soon)
For existing facility projects (Coming Soon)
FAQs - Best Management Practices

WATERSHED DIVISION	REPORT WATERSHED VIOLATIONS
1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 92069 (760) 744-1050	(760) 481-3878 Report a Concern