Is Your Community Prepared for Heavy Rainfall?
Proactive Maintenance is the Key to Avoiding Flooding and Property Damage
Over the past few years, the Northeastern United States has experienced a sharp rise in record-setting rain events—leading to costly flooding and structural damage across residential neighborhoods and buildings. As these severe storms become more frequent and less predictable, it's critical for communities to take a proactive approach to stormwater management.
Many residential developments are responsible for maintaining one or more on-site stormwater detention or retention basins. These systems are not always visible, but they play a vital role in managing runoff and preventing downstream flooding. Whether a basin is tucked away behind homes or shared with neighboring developments, understanding its location, condition, and functionality is essential.
Stormwater Systems: What You Need to Know
Modern stormwater systems are designed based on projected rainfall intensities—often using the "100-year storm" model, which reflects a 1% chance of a significant storm occurring in any given year. These systems must be capable of capturing and slowly releasing water to avoid overwhelming local infrastructure.
But when multiple storms hit in quick succession, even well-designed basins can become stressed or fail to recover between events. That's why regular inspections and maintenance are non-negotiable.
Key Action Items for Community Associations:
- Annual inspections of inlet/outlet structures, inflow pipes, and surrounding grading
- Clear debris and check for erosion after major storms
- Mow and remove leaves from basin areas to keep flow paths unobstructed
- Verify maintenance responsibilities in community declarations and local ordinances
- Assess impacts of new construction (clubhouses, parking lots, etc.) on stormwater systems
Older communities may lack modern stormwater controls or were built with outdated assumptions about rainfall intensity. These systems should be evaluated and upgraded where needed to meet today’s standards.
Let’s Work Together to Keep Your Community Safe
At The Falcon Group, we specialize in evaluating, maintaining, and upgrading stormwater management systems for residential and commercial properties. Whether your system is aging, overwhelmed, or in need of a compliance check, our team of civil engineers is ready to help.
