Articles Tagged: Municipal Operations

When stormwater professionals encounter an unexplained discharge, a suspicious pipe, or a drainage system that does not behave as expected, one of the most effective investigative tools available is dye testing. Used by municipalities, engineers, environmental consultants, utility operators, and reg…

One of the greatest challenges facing municipal stormwater programs is finding meaningful ways to engage residents in protecting local waterways. Public education campaigns are important, but brochures, websites, and social media posts often struggle to create lasting behavioral change. People are f…

Waterfront properties are among a community's most valuable and desirable lands. They offer scenic views, recreational opportunities, and direct access to lakes, rivers, ponds, and coastal waters. Yet the landscaping practices commonly used to maintain these properties can unintentionally become…

Across towns and counties, road departments replace cross culverts every day. The motivation is usually sound. Aging pipes fail without warning, and a collapse beneath the roadway can create a serious safety hazard, not to mention an expensive emergency repair. Proactive replacement is responsible a…

In many cases, wetlands announce themselves clearly with standing water, saturated soils, and soft, mucky ground. However, some of the most regulated and environmentally sensitive wetlands are far less obvious. They may appear dry for much of the year, support grasses and shrubs, and even look suita…

Street sweeping rarely gets much attention. It is slow, repetitive work, often done in the early morning hours, and the equipment itself can be temperamental and expensive to maintain. Sweepers are subject to constant wear, from abrasive debris, dust, and the mechanical strain of brushes, conveyors,…

Closed-circuit television, or CCTV, drainage inspection has become one of the most effective tools available to municipalities for understanding the true condition of their buried stormwater infrastructure. Unlike surface inspections, which can only reveal limited information, CCTV inspections provi…

Fire hydrant flushing is a common and often necessary practice for maintaining water distribution systems. Municipalities flush hydrants to remove sediment, verify system performance, and ensure adequate flow for firefighting. While these objectives are important, the practice can carry a range of u…

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System programs, commonly referred to as MS4 programs, are often viewed as regulatory obligations, while stormwater asset management is treated as an operational necessity. In reality, these two efforts are deeply interconnected. When properly aligned, a strong asset m…

A Look at the English Brook Delta in Lake George, New York Sediment is a natural part of any water system, but when it accumulates faster than a system can handle, it begins to change the waterbody in ways that are both visible and subtle. Excess sediment alters water clarity, transports nutrients, …

Culverts are often out of sight and, as a result, out of mind, until they fail. When they do fail, the consequences can range from nuisance flooding to full roadway washouts. One of the most overlooked factors in culvert performance is vegetation management. Too little control can obstruct flow and …

Municipal road crews are on the front lines of stormwater management whether they realize it or not. Every ditch they shape, every culvert they install, and every roadside repair they complete has a direct impact on how water moves across the landscape. Yet in many public works departments, stormwat…