Department Guide

Street Utilities & Drainage

Preventative maintenance standards for stormwater, drainage, and street utility infrastructure.

Overview

Street utilities and drainage systems are among the most maintenance-intensive assets in a municipal inventory. Failures are often invisible until a major storm event — making proactive inspection and cleaning programs essential.

Storm Sewer Inspection

  • Catch basin inspection frequency by drainage district type
  • CCTV inspection program for mainline storm sewers
  • Condition rating standards and repair prioritization
  • Inlet protection during construction activity

Cleaning Programs

  • Catch basin cleaning frequency standards (minimum annually)
  • Jet-vac truck deployment scheduling and production standards
  • Sediment disposal requirements and documentation
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) protocols

MS4 Permit Compliance

Most municipalities operate under an NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Compliance requires documented inspection programs, public education activities, construction site runoff controls, and annual reporting. Assign a dedicated MS4 coordinator and maintain a compliance calendar.

Inspection Schedule Annual catch basin inspection cycle with GIS tracking
Cleaning Program Documented cleaning frequency and production standards
CCTV Program Mainline inspection cycle and condition rating database
MS4 Calendar All permit requirements tracked with responsible owners
IDDE Protocol Written illicit discharge detection and response SOP
Annual Report MS4 annual report template and submission schedule