Last Updated 08/12/2026
Excerpt from the City of Lewiston Storm Water Master Plan
Section 8 – Storm Water Systems Operation & Maintenance
A storm drainage system, likely any other infrastructure, requires routine maintenance to maximize system capacity and extend the useful life of the system. In the past, this maintenance was only undertaken to maximize the drainage systems ability to convey storm runoff. However, maintenance of storm drainage systems has expanded in recent years to include efforts to improve water quality. As discussed in Section 7, the Phase II rules require development of an O & M program targeting water quality. Providing adequate and consistent funding for storm drainage operation and maintenance is essential for a successful storm water program.
Lewiston, like most cities in the northwest, places the responsibility for operation and maintenance of storm drainage systems in the Street Department. Storm drainage therefore competes for manpower and funding with the needs of pavement repair and replacement, snow and ice removal, and other street maintenance needs. This often results in minimal or inconsistent funding for storm drainage needs. In some cities, the formation of “storm water utilities” or rate funded storm water programs has resulted in consistent funding, and in some cases, operation and maintenance responsibilities being shifted to separate storm drainage departments within these cities.
The typical components of a storm water system operation and maintenance program include:
- Routine system cleaning (including pipes, catch basins, open channels, and inlets)
- Regular system inspection and assessment (including videotaping pipes)
- Small system repairs, revisions, or upgrades
- Customer Service (complaint response & investigation)
- Emergency response
Excerpt from the Lewiston Stormwater Policy and Design Manual
Operations and Maintenance Plan
This Stormwater Manual requires the development and City approval of a Stormwater Operations and Maintenance Plans (O&MP) for all Lewiston Stormwater Policy and Design Manual Appendices Draft October 2010 5 commercial, industrial and public development and redevelopment, including residential subdivisions that will discharge stormwater to the City’s stormwater system. The design objective is to create a plan that will, over time and through various owners, guarantee the continued maintenance and functioning of stormwater control BMPs on any given site. The City may require that any stormwater management responsibilities or limitations created by a SWMP or O&MP be recorded with the title of the property.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which department in Lewiston is responsible for storm drainage maintenance?
The Street Department, following the pattern common across most cities in the Pacific Northwest. That arrangement means storm drainage maintenance competes directly with pavement repair, snow and ice removal and other street needs for the same manpower and funding, which the city’s own master plan acknowledges often results in minimal or inconsistent funding for stormwater work specifically. Some cities have addressed this by forming rate-funded stormwater utilities with dedicated departments, though Lewiston’s current structure still routes drainage through the Street Department.
What does a stormwater operation and maintenance program in Lewiston actually cover?
The city’s master plan outlines five core components: routine system cleaning of pipes, catch basins, open channels and inlets, regular inspection and assessment including pipe videotaping, small repairs and upgrades, customer service for complaint response and investigation, and emergency response. It’s worth noting that maintenance goals have expanded over time. What used to focus purely on maximizing the system’s capacity to convey runoff now also has to address water quality, per the Phase II rules referenced in the plan.
Does a Lewiston property need a formal Operations and Maintenance Plan?
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
