“I want to plan ahead and prepare my community financially for some of the larger maintenance actions required.

A good first step is to determine requirements that apply to the pond by contacting the city or county Stormwater or Public Services Department to find more information on applicable regulations, local guidance, and inspection and maintenance resources. Requirements for pond inspection and maintenance can vary depending on when the pond was built, the municipality, design considerations, and more. “What inspection and maintenance regulations apply to our pond system?”

The pond owner is responsible for maintenance and, therefore, should be taking the necessary steps to plan for regular inspection and maintenance. Rarely are these ponds owned by the city or county government. In many South Carolina residential communities, the pond owner is most often the homeowner association (HOA) or neighborhood.

“Who owns the stormwater pond in our community? Who is responsible for maintenance?” As the owner of a stormwater pond system, the entire community plays a role in successful pond management. Some studies have found that poorly performing or maintained pond systems can act as sources of pollution in South Carolina waterways (Lewitus et al., 2003). Maintenance of stormwater pond systems is not only critical to maintaining their benefits to the community, but also to reduce impact on downstream waterways.

Maintenance of a Stormwater Pond for Long-Term Performance

Best method for dredging a pond