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0$/22/95 TUE 09:44 FAX WOODFYARD CLYDE 0008 <br /> ensure maximum effectiveness. One of the major disadvantages to regional facilities is <br /> that they are usually located farther downstream in a watershed than on -site facilities and <br /> therefore do not provide any water quality protection for upstream areas of the watershed. <br /> Puget Sound requirements consider regional water quality treatment BMPs as <br /> unacceptable for this reason. They also feel that numerous on -site facilities (if well <br /> maintained) have the potential to provide higher pollutant removals when compared to a <br /> regional facility. This is because on -site facilities as opposed to regional facilities may <br /> provide source controls (e.g., reduced impervious areas, infiltration, etc.). <br /> 3.4 Maintenance of Facilities <br /> On -site Facilities: Lack of proper maintenance is considered to be the leading cause of <br /> failure of on -site stormwater control facilities. BMPs are typically planned and designed <br /> according to specific requirements, but once they're built they're often ignored. This is <br /> especially true for BMPs which have not been designed as amenities to the development <br /> and for BMPs which are underground facilities (i.e., out -of- sight, out -of- mind). For <br /> example, many jurisdictions have found that detention basins are likely to become <br /> overgrown with weeds or can turn to dumping pits if they are located in areas which are <br /> out of sight. Another common problem is that access to the facility for maintenance <br /> activities is sometimes not adequately considered during design. Detention basins and <br /> other BMPs that have been planned as visual amenities in the landscape design and <br /> located in common areas are more likely to be well maintained. <br /> Many jurisdictions have struggled with maintenance issues for on -site facilities. <br /> Programs have typically required maintenance by the property owner for industrial, <br /> commercial, and multi - family residential sites (for example, covenants with maintenance <br /> obligations are attached to the property). For single - family residential sites, developers <br /> are often designated as being responsible for maintenance for a certain amount of time <br /> (e.g., one or two year maintenance bonds are issued) and then the jurisdiction takes over <br /> responsibility for maintenance (e.g., drainage easements are obtained). In some cases, the <br /> jurisdiction will require general maintenance by the property owner (e.g., mowing and <br /> litter removal for a grass swale), and the jurisdiction will maintain the hydraulic controls. <br /> In all cases, the jurisdictions interviewed expressed the opinion that adequate <br /> maintenance is often lacking. Even when the jurisdiction is responsible for maintenance, <br /> the resources are typically insufficient to conduct the amount of maintenance that is <br /> needed for numerous on -site facilities scattered throughout the jurisdiction. <br /> Three main reasons have been cited for the lack of maintenance for on -site f cilities: 1) <br /> Adequate maintenance takes time and money and therefore, when it's not enrced it's <br /> often ignored. 2) Maintenance is often the responsibility of the property owner and can <br /> be overlooked when property owners change. New owners may not adequately <br /> understand the requirement for maintenance. 3) Proper maintenance procedures and the <br /> need for maintenance are not always adequately understood. In many cases, the need for <br /> maintenance is not acknowledged until a significant problem such as flooding is <br /> observed. <br /> 7 <br />