Maintaining Detention & Retention Ponds

Whether it’s too much (coastal and flash flooding from hurricanes) or too little (the ongoing drought in Georgia), water is now the focus of more governmental attention and oversight than ever before. One impact of this on the local level is that county and municipal governments are turning watchful eyes to the condition of local stormwater facilities, including privately owned detention and retention ponds. While you or your HOA may own the pond, your city or county can compel you to maintain it to acceptable standards. Proper maintenance includes keeping the spillway clear of trash and — more critically — keeping the dam and basin free of trees and other woody overgrowth. Detention ponds must completely drain of water in a reasonable amount of time (to clarify, a detention pond is designed to temporarily detain water during a storm event to slow runoff, and then empty after the event ends; a retention pond retains water, although the level may go up and down with rain events). In addition, detention and retention ponds must be kept in conditions that allow reasonable access for routine inspections. Good maintenance is in the best interest of your property value, and your costs can be minimized by maintaining the pond consistently rather than undertaking a big clean-up effort after a problem occurs. If you have any questions about the condition of your pond and the local regulation to which it may be subject, contact us.