Operations & Maintenance for Private Property

The Operations & Maintenance of Private Property Stormwater Drainage Systems

General Information for Private Property Owners

The Town of Greenwich requires the inspection and service to be completed and the records from the inspection and service to be maintained by the owner(s); at this time, the Town of Greenwich does not require the inspection and service information to be submitted to any Town agencies nor be recorded in the Land Records. 

It should be noted that parcels that required an Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency (IWWA) permit may be required to submit inspection and service information every five (5) years as part of that permit’s conditions of approval. A review of the Land Records for parcels that required an (IWWA) permit is recommended to determine if the submittal of these records may be required.

It should be noted that when the Town of Greenwich receives a complaint that is determined to be a legitimate complaint with respect to stormwater runoff issues and concerns the DPW – Engineering Division will contact the owner of the parcel to obtain a copy of all stormwater maintenance records.

Please remember to have your stormwater drainage system inspection and service completed as detailed in your O&M plan and keep all records in your files. 

Property owners may receive letters from private companies that provide inspection and maintenance services reminding them to perform inspections. These letters are not connected to the Town of Greenwich or any State of Connecticut Agency. 

Property owners are encouraged to contact their attorney if they are not clear on what their obligations are for the inspection and maintenance of their property. 

Thank you for helping us protect the environment and your community.

General Information of an Operations & Maintenance Plan

Beginning on October 13, 2008 the Town of Greenwich began requiring that an Operations & Maintenance Plan (O&M Plan) be created for all new development and redevelopment construction projects; thus a maintenance declaration document was required to be filed in the Town of Greenwich Land Records for each parcel upon completion of the work and prior to obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. The type of maintenance declaration has changed over the years as follows:

• The Maintenance Declaration was used from October 13, 2008 to April 30, 2012. 
• The Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration Form MD-100 dated February 2012 was used from May 1, 2012 to February 28, 2014. 
• The Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration Form MD-100 dated February 2014 began its use on March 1, 2014 and is the current required document.

The current O&M Plan consists of the following documents:

• Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration Form MD-100 dated February 2014. This is the legal document filed in the Town of Greenwich Land Records specifying the maintenance requirements for the parcel.
• Exhibit A – Long Term Maintenance Plan and Inspection Log Form. This exhibit specifies the required maintenance for the parcel; it is not filed in the Town of Greenwich Land Records
• Exhibit B – Improvement Location Survey Depicting “As-Built” Conditions. This exhibit is a plan with an A-2 and T-2 certification from a Licensed Surveyor depicting “As-Built” conditions of the parcel (house, pool, sidewalks, patios, driveway, fences, stormwater drainage (porous pavement, rain gardens, drywell/Cultec systems, catch basins, pipes, contours, spot elevations, etc.); it is not filed in the Town of Greenwich Land Records. 

If a parcel has a Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration, a copy can be obtained by researching the Town of Greenwich Land Records. Once a copy of the Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration has been obtained it will specify the Town of Greenwich Departments/Divisions that will have a copy of Exhibit A – Long Term Maintenance Plan and Inspection Log Form and Exhibit B – Improvement Location Survey Depicting “As-Built” Conditions. 

As stated in the Stormwater Management Practices Maintenance Declaration under covenants, conditions, and restrictions:

4. The Owner(s) shall retain the services of a qualified inspector (as described in Exhibit A) to operate and ensure the maintenance of the stormwater management practice(s) identified in Exhibit B in accordance with the Operations and Maintenance Plan (Exhibit A).

5. The Owner(s) must maintain all records (logs, invoices, reports, data, etc.) and have them readily-available for inspection at all times. Inspection documentation must be maintained as frequently as required in Exhibit A. 

The required frequency of the inspection and service will depend on stormwater runoff quantities, pollutant loading, and clogging of debris; at a minimum, the Town recommends that all stormwater components be inspected and serviced twice per year: once before winter begins and once during spring cleanup or as directed by a professional engineer (PE). 

The recommended inspections must be completed by an individual experienced in the construction and maintenance of stormwater drainage systems. Once every five (5) years the inspections must be completed by a professional engineer (PE). 

The stormwater maintenance requirements for each parcel will be different and are specified in Exhibit A for the parcel.

An example Exhibit A with recommended maintenance for different types of stormwater components is available on the Stormwater Drainage Manual web page listed as Appendix H – Exhibit A Word File for Engineers Use (DOC). https://www.greenwichct.gov/242/Stormwater-Drainage-Manual

Exhibit B – Improvement Location Survey Depicting “As-Built” Conditions will show the specific stormwater infrastructure that has been installed on the parcel and must be maintained following Exhibit A.

Thank you for helping us protect the environment and your community.