Operations and Maintenance

The stormwater utility operates a robust stormwater operation and maintenance program to manage city stormwater infrastructure.   The program consists of routine inspection and maintenance in order to:

• Remove accumulated sediment and pollution from stormwater structure
• Prevent localized flooding
• Identify and prioritize needed repairs or replacement of structures
• Screen the stormwater system for illicit discharges/connections
• Comply with the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit and UIC rule under WAC 173-218.

Annual Inspections

Staff annually inspect catch basins, drywells, stormwater inlets, swales, pipes, and stormwater pumps.  Inspections document if structures need sediment removal, show any evident water quality issues, and/or needed to be repaired or replaced.   Structures found to need cleaning are typically scheduled to be cleaned within one year.  Structures with damage are prioritized for repair.

Routine Maintenance

The city works with a contractor to annually clean stormwater structures with an eductor vacuum truck.  Each year, the city cleans over 1,500 structures, primarily on arterial roadways which receive the highest amount of sediment and pollutant loading.  Other stormwater structures on residential streets are cleaned based upon the inspection results from the previous years’ inspections.  

The city also operates a street sweeping program to help remove sediment and pollutants from roadways and ultimately downstream surface and groundwaters.  To find out more about street sweeping please visit the city’s Street Maintenance & Pavement Preservation page.

  The cities stormwater operation and maintenance is covered in the tandem operation and maintenance plans:

• 2024 UIC Operations and Maintenance Manual (PDF)
• 2024 MS4 Operations and Maintenance Manual (PDF)