Difference between revisions of "Inspection and Maintenance: Bioretention & Bioswales"

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[[File:Cover Photo.PNG|thumb|500px|Inspection & Maintenance Guidance of vegetated stormwater best management practices that tmeproarily store rainwater and snowmelt from roofs, pavement, parking lots, etc. in depressed planting beds, concrete planters or swales. [[Acknowledgements|TRCA, 2016]]<ref> TRCA. 2016. Fact Sheet - Inspection and Maintenance of Stormwater Best Management Practices: Bioretention. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2018/02/Bioretention-and-Dry-Swales-Fact-Sheet.pdf</ref>]]
[[File:Cover Photo.PNG|thumb|700px|Inspection & Maintenance Guidance of vegetated stormwater best management practices that tmeproarily store rainwater and snowmelt from roofs, pavement, parking lots, etc. in depressed planting beds, concrete planters or swales. [[Acknowledgements|TRCA, 2016]]<ref> TRCA. 2016. Fact Sheet - Inspection and Maintenance of Stormwater Best Management Practices: Bioretention. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2018/02/Bioretention-and-Dry-Swales-Fact-Sheet.pdf</ref>]]


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Revision as of 14:37, 8 April 2022

Inspection & Maintenance Guidance of vegetated stormwater best management practices that tmeproarily store rainwater and snowmelt from roofs, pavement, parking lots, etc. in depressed planting beds, concrete planters or swales. TRCA, 2016[1]

Overview[edit]

Bioretention treats stormwater by slowing it down, filtering it through soil and plant roots, soaking it into the ground and evaporating it back to the atmosphere. Runoff water is delivered to the practice through inlets such as curb cuts, spillways or other concrete structures, sheet flow from pavement edges, or pipes connected to catchbasins or roof downspouts. The planting bed and side slopes are typically covered with a mixture of plants, mulch and stone. Water in excess of its storage capacity overflows to another BMP or the municipal storm sewer. Filtered water is either infiltrated into the underlying soil to replenish groundwater, or collected by a sub-drain (i.e., underground perforated pipe) and discharged to the storm sewer system or another BMP. Depending on the permeability of the underlying soil or other constraints, it may be designed with no sub-drain for full infiltration, with a sub-drain for partial infiltration, or with an impermeable liner and sub-drain for a no infiltration practice. The sub-drain pipe may feature a flow restrictor (e.g., orifice cap or valve) for gradually releasing detained water and optimizing the amount drained by infiltration. Key components of bioretention practices for inspection and maintenance described further below.

Associated Terminology[edit]

  • Bioretention cell: A flat-bottomed, depressed planting bed containing filter media soil, a gravel water storage layer and optional sub-drain pipe(s); Also known as a rain garden.
  • Stormwater planters: A bioretention cell contained within an engineered (e.g., concrete) structure.
  • Biofilter: Bioretention cell or swale with an impermeable liner or containment structure and sub-drain.
  • Dry swale or Bioretention swale: A gently sloping, linear oriented bioretention practice designed to be capable of conveying water across an elevation gradient. Also known as a bioswale or dry swale.

How to Preserve Basic BMP Function[edit]

  • Maintain grading of the filter bed (or grass filter strip if present) at curb cut inlets so at least 5 cm of the back of the curb is visible through regular sediment removal and regrading.
  • To avoid over-compaction of the filter media soil, any maintenance tasks involving vehicle or foot traffic on the filter bed should not be performed during wet weather.
  • For bioretention with sod (i.e., turf grass) as vegetation cover, maintain with a push mower or the lightest mulching ride mower available and core aerate and dethatch annually in the spring to help maintain permeability.
  • Pruning of mature trees should be performed under the guidance of a Certified Arborist.
  • Woody vegetation should not be planted or allowed to become established where snow will be piled/stored during Winter.
  • Removal of sediment from the filter bed surface should be done with rake and shovel, or vacuum equipment to minimize plant disturbance. If a small excavator is to be used, keep it off the BMP footprint to avoid damage to side slopes/embankments and over-compaction of the filter media.

Key Components and I&M Tasks[edit]

Bioretention/Swales: Key Components, Descriptions and Routine I&M Requriements
Component Description Inspection & Maintenance Tasks
Contributing Drainage Area (CDA)

Area(s) from which runoff directed to the BMP originates; includes both impervious and pervious areas.

  • Remove trash, debris and sediment from pavements (biannually to quarterly) and eavestroughs (annually);
  • Replant or seed bare soil areas as needed.
Pretreatment

Devices or features that retain trash, debris and sediment; help to extend the operating life cycle; examples are eavestrough screens, catch basin inserts and sumps, oil and grit separators, geotextile-lined inlets, gravel trenches, grass filter strips and forebays.

  • Remove trash, debris and sediment annually to biannually or when the device sump is half full;
  • Measure sediment depth or volume during each cleaning, or annually to estimate accumulation rate and optimize frequency of maintenance
Inlets

Structures that deliver water to the BMP (e.g., Curb cuts, spillways, pavement edges, catch basins, pipes).

  • Keep free of obstructions;
  • Remove trash, debris and sediment biannually to quarterly;
  • Measure sediment depth or volume during each cleaning or annually to estimate accumulation rate and optimize frequency of maintenance;
  • Remove woody vegetation from filter bed at inlets annually.
Perimeter

Side slopes or structures that define the BMP footprint; may be covered by a mixture of vegetation, mulch and stone with slopes up to 2:1 (H:V), or concrete or masonry structures with vertical walls.

  • Confirm the surface ponding footprint area dimensions are within ±10% of the design and that maximum surface ponding depth meets design specifications;
  • Check for side slope erosion or damage that compromises water storage capacity
Filter Bed

Flat or gently sloping area composed of a 0.5 to 1 m deep layer of filter media soil covered by a mixture of vegetation, mulch and stone where surface ponding and filtration of runoff occurs.

  • Check for standing water, barren/eroded areas, sinkholes or animal burrows;
  • Remove trash biannually to quarterly;
  • Rake regularly to redistribute mulch and prevent sediment crusts;
  • Maintain 5 to 10 cm of mulch or stone cover to prevent weed growth and soil erosion;
  • Repair sunken areas when ≥ 10 cm deep and barren/eroded areas when ≥ 30 cm long;
  • Remove sediment when > 5 cm deep or time to drain water ponded on the surface exceeds 48 hours.
Vegetation

A mixture of deep rooting perennial plants, tolerant to both wet and dry conditions and salt (if receiving pavement runoff); can include grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees; roots uptake water and return it to the atmosphere; provide habitat for organisms that break down trapped pollutants and help maintain soil structure and permeability.

  • Routine maintenance is the same as a conventional perennial garden bed;
  • In the first 2 months water plantings frequently (biweekly in the absence or rain) and as needed (e.g., bimonthly) over the remainder of the first growing season;
  • Remove weeds and undesirable plants biannually to quarterly;
  • Replace dead plantings annually to achieve 80% cover by the third growing season;
  • Do not apply chemical fertilizers.
Overflow Outlet

Structures that convey overflows to another BMP or municipal storm sewer.

  • Keep free of obstructions;
  • Remove trash, debris and sediment biannually to quarterly.
Sub-drain

Optional component; perforated pipe(s) surrounded by gravel and may be wrapped in geotextile filter fabric; installed below the filter media soil layer to collect and convey treated water to an adjacent drainage system; may also include a flow restrictor.

  • Include standpipes or access points to provide means of flushing the perforated pipe;
  • Keep pipe and flow restrictor free of obstructions by flushing annually;
  • Inspect flow restrictor frequently (e.g., biannually to quarterly).
Monitoring well

Perforated standpipe that extends from the bottom of the BMP to above the invert of the overflow outlet. Allows measurement of subsurface water level to track drainage performance over time.

  • Standpipes should be securely capped on both ends and remain undamaged.

Rehabilitation & Repair[edit]

Bioretention/Swales: Key Components, Typical Issues and Rehabilitation Requirements
Component Problem Rehabilitation Tasks
Inlets

Inlet is producing concentrated flow and causing filter bed erosion.

  • Add flow spreading device or re-grade existing device back to level. Rake to regrade damaged portion of the filter bed and replant or restore mulch/stone cover. If problem persists, replace some mulch cover with stone.
Filter Bed Local or average sediment accumulation ≥ 5 cm in depth.
  • At inlets remove stone and use vacuum equipment or rake and shovel to remove sediment. For large areas or BMPs, use of a small excavator may be preferable. Restore grades with filter media that meets design specifications. Test surface infiltration rate (one test for every 25 m2 of filter bed area) to confirm it is > 25 mm/h. Replace stone, mulch and vegetation coverage (re-use/transplant where possible). If problem persists, add pretreatment device(s) or investigate the source(s).
Surface ponding remains for >48 hours or surface infiltration rate is <25 mm/h.
  • Remove sediment as described above. Core aerate (for sodded bioretention); or remove stone, sediment, mulch, and plant cover and till the exposed filter media to a depth of 20 cm; or remove and replace the uppermost 15 cm of material with filter media that meets specifications. Test surface infiltration rate (one test for every 25 m2 of filter bed area) to confirm it is > 25 mm/h. Replace stone, mulch and plants (re-use/ transplant where possible).
Damage to filter bed or slide slope is present (e.g., erosion rills, animal burrows, sink holes, ruts)
  • Regrade damaged portion by raking and replant or restore mulch/stone cover. Animal burrows, sink holes and compacted areas should be tilled to 20 cm depth prior to re-grading. If problems persist, consider adding flow spreading device to prevent erosion or barriers to discourage foot or vehicular traffic.
Vegetation

Vegetation is not thriving and filter media is low in organic matter (<3%) or extractable phosphorus (<10 mg/kg)

  • Remove stone, mulch and plant cover and uppermost 5 cm of filter media, spread 5 cm of yard waste compost, incorporate into filter media to 20 cm depth by tilling. Replace stone, mulch and plants (re-use/transplant where possible).
Sub-drain

Sub-drain perforated pipe is obstructed by sediment or roots.

  • Schedule hydro-vac truck or drain-snaking service to clear the obstruction.

Inspection Field Data Sheet[edit]

Feel free to download (downward facing arrow on the top righthand side) and print (Pinter emoticon on top right hand side) the following Bioretention and Dry swale Inspection Field Data Form developed by TRCA, STEP and its partners for the Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Practice Inspection and Maintenance Guide.

[2]

The 8 page document prompts users to fill out details previously mentioned above on this page in other sections about various zones associated with [[Bioretention] and [Dry swale] features (i.e. inlets, perimeter of the feature, filter bed, outlets, etc.) and describe why each area is a pass or fail, and if remediate action is required and under what timeframe it would be completed by. Furthermore, the forms prompt the reviewer to determine what type of inspection is being conducted for the feature in question: Construction (C), Routine Operation (RO), Maintenance Verification (MV), or Performance Verification (PV).


load PDF

References[edit]

  1. TRCA. 2016. Fact Sheet - Inspection and Maintenance of Stormwater Best Management Practices: Bioretention. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2018/02/Bioretention-and-Dry-Swales-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  2. STEP. 2016. Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Practice Inspection and Maintenance Guide. https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2016/08/LID-IM-Guide-2016-1.pdf