As a part of the compliance obligations under agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is required to periodically inspect and ensure proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater management practices (SMPs) and associated drainage areas installed on private properties.
6.2.1 PWD Post‑Construction Inspections
PWD periodically inspects properties to check the functionality of the SMPs and associated drainage areas. PWD will contact the property owner of record to schedule these inspections. Inspections will generally occur during normal business hours. During an inspection, PWD inspectors check to see that SMPs are being maintained in accordance with the approved Post‑Construction Stormwater Management Plan and Operations and Maintenance Agreement, and that all SMPs and drainage areas are functioning as designed. After inspection, PWD will provide the property with a Post‑Construction Stormwater Management Maintenance Inspection Report detailing the results of the inspection and identifying any SMPs or features requiring maintenance or corrective action. The property owner is responsible for addressing all required corrective actions by the deadline indicated in the report. If a project remains noncompliant due to unresponsiveness, or has not reached compliance by a communicated deadline, the project will be referred to Post‑Construction Enforcement. Certain site conditions may warrant immediate referral to Post‑Construction Enforcement.
6.2.2 PWD Post‑Construction Enforcement
Deadlines to submit documentation or complete required corrective actions will be provided during the Post‑Construction Enforcement process, which must be complied with in order to avoid escalated enforcement action, which may include, but is not limited to, the issuance of a Notice of Violation and Order to Correct (NOV), suspension of stormwater billing credits, daily fines, issuance of an administrative order, filing of an enforcement action in court, and abatement by the City and billing for expenses (including administrative expenses).