Changes

===Construction Inspections===

===Construction Inspections===

Construction inspections should be a shared responsibility between the property owner or their project manager, the designers (i.e., engineer and landscape designer) and the construction contractors. Many municipalities already conduct some form of inspection of infrastructure they will eventually assume during its construction. Those that do not, might choose to work with internal departments (e.g., road or building inspectors, parks/landscaping inspectors) or other agencies (e.g., conservation authorities) that routinely conduct inspections at active construction sites. With adequate training and staff resources, it might be possible to integrate stormwater BMP inspection duties during construction into existing programs. If the workload or skill set needed is beyond what existing programs can handle, or the timing of other types of inspections do not coincide with critical timing of BMP construction inspections, hiring of trained contractors or allocation of dedicated stormwater infrastructure program staff may be necessary.  

Construction inspections should be a shared responsibility between the property owner or their project manager, the designers (i.e., engineer and landscape designer) and the construction contractors. Many municipalities already conduct some form of inspection of infrastructure they will eventually assume during its construction. Those that do not, might choose to work with internal departments (e.g., road or building inspectors, parks/landscaping inspectors) or other agencies (e.g., conservation authorities) that routinely conduct inspections at active construction sites. With adequate training and staff resources, it might be possible to integrate stormwater BMP inspection duties during construction into existing programs. If the workload or skill set needed is beyond what existing programs can handle, or the timing of other types of inspections do not coincide with critical timing of BMP construction inspections, hiring of trained contractors or allocation of dedicated stormwater infrastructure program staff may be necessary.  

The frequency of Construction inspections may be determined by the municipal stormwater infrastructure program policy or may be general program targets (e.g., weekly, after large storm events, as triggered by construction milestones and hand-off points between different contractors). At a minimum, inspections should occur just prior to the onset of BMP construction to ensure compliance with erosion and sediment control plans and after any large storm event (e.g., 15 mm rainfall depth or greater) during the BMP construction period.

The frequency of Construction inspections may be determined by the municipal stormwater infrastructure program policy or may be general program targets (e.g., weekly, after large storm events, as triggered by construction milestones and hand-off points between different contractors). At a minimum, inspections should occur just prior to the onset of BMP construction to ensure compliance with erosion and sediment control plans and after any large storm event (e.g., 15 mm rainfall depth or greater) during the BMP construction period. The figure to the right describes a recommended process for conducting construction and assumption inspections.

Feedback from Construction inspections should be used to correct any issues associated with BMP installation or Erosion Sediment Controls (ESCs) and to identify when changes to the installation procedures, ESCs or BMP design are needed due to site circumstances or complications encountered. In cases where the project proponent or property owner uses a formal bidding process to select a construction contractor, opportunities exist to include special provisions in tender documents or contracts that will help ensure that LID BMPs receive adequate inspection and maintenance during construction.

Feedback from Construction inspections should be used to correct any issues associated with BMP installation or Erosion Sediment Controls (ESCs) and to identify when changes to the installation procedures, ESCs or BMP design are needed due to site circumstances or complications encountered. In cases where the project proponent or property owner uses a formal bidding process to select a construction contractor, opportunities exist to include special provisions in tender documents or contracts that will help ensure that LID BMPs receive adequate inspection and maintenance during construction.

*The property owner can specify in construction tenders or contracts to retain a certain percentage of the total value of the work done for a period of 12 months from the date of final completion.  

*The property owner can specify in construction tenders or contracts to retain a certain percentage of the total value of the work done for a period of 12 months from the date of final completion.  

**In such cases, construction contracts should specifically require that thorough inspection and testing of the BMPs be completed to the satisfaction of the property owner or their project manager, design consultants and construction contractors as a condition of Assumption, contract termination and release of the holdback amount.<br>

**In such cases, construction contracts should specifically require that thorough inspection and testing of the BMPs be completed to the satisfaction of the property owner or their project manager, design consultants and construction contractors as a condition of Assumption, contract termination and release of the holdback amount.<br>

===Routine Operation Inspections===

===Routine Operation Inspections===

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources.

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources. <br>

===Verification Inspections===

===Verification Inspections===

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

Feedback from inspections should be used to schedule repair or rehabilitation tasks, further investigations into observed problems with BMP function (see Forensic Inspection and Testing section below), or initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted.

Feedback from inspections should be used to schedule repair or rehabilitation tasks, further investigations into observed problems with BMP function (see Forensic Inspection and Testing section below), or initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted.<br>

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===