Last Updated 07/23/2026
The Town of Waterford has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The Town of Waterford is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The Town of Waterford will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The Town of Waterford, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The Town of Waterford has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning
The Town of Waterford has been issued a General Permit for the discharge of stormwater from the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). To ensure compliance with the terms of the permit and ultimately the requirements of EPA’s Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the Town of Waterford has established zoning regulations for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the Town’s stormwater system. The use of best management practices (BMPs) is one of the requirements for any activity, operation, or facility that may cause or contribute pollution or contamination of stormwater, the storm drain system, or waters of the state of Connecticut.
Developments that disturb equal to or more than ½ acre are subject to additional permits and requirements which include Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans or Stormwater Management Plans (SMPs) before any development can occur. Operation, maintenance, and inspection of stormwater treatment practices is the responsibility of the property owner before, during, and after construction. The Town of Waterford has published a stormwater BMP Operations and Maintenance (O&M) guidance document. Post-construction stormwater BMP maintenance guidance can also be found in the 2004 Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual.
25.6.14.1 Operations and Maintenance Plan
An Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan for all stormwater management systems, including structural and non-structural controls, shall be submitted for Commission approval as part of the application documents. The O&M Plan shall be developed to ensure the system and its components function as designed and is maintained so as not to create or result in a nuisance condition, such as but not limited to flooding, erosion, pollutant discharge, excessive algal growth, over-grown vegetation, mosquito breeding, unsightly debris, or impairments to public safety and health. The property owner shall have primary responsibility for implementing the operations and maintenance plan and submitting the annual inspection report.
25.6.14.2 The Operations and Maintenance Plan shall contain at a minimum the following:
1. Stormwater management system(s) owners and contact information. 2. The party or parties responsible for operation and maintenance, including how future property owners will be notified of the presence of the stormwater management system and the requirement for proper operation and maintenance. 3. The routine and non-routine inspection and maintenance tasks for each stormwater management practice, a schedule for implementing these tasks and identification of the professional qualifications or certifications required by the entity conducting the inspection and maintenance tasks to be undertaken after construction is complete. 4. An outline of the annual maintenance inspection report. 5. A maintenance log for tracking inspections and repairs. 6. A plan that is drawn to scale and shows the location of all stormwater management facilities along with the discharge point. 7. A description and delineation of public safety features. 8. An estimated operation and maintenance budget. 9. Funding source for operation and maintenance activities and equipment. 10. Annual Maintenance Inspection Report template. 11. The Seal and Signature of a registered Connecticut Professional Engineer.
25.6.14.3 Maintenance Requirements:
1. The responsible party shall perform routine maintenance in accordance with the approved stormwater plan and permit.
2. The responsible party shall identify and perform non-routine maintenance and/or repairs based on regular inspection of the stormwater facilities as needed. Notification of repair work shall be provided to the Commission or its designated agent prior to initiating activity. All maintenance shall be performed in a timely manner to maintain functions of the stormwater facility.
3. The responsible party shall submit a signed statement to the Waterford Planning office once per year indicating that the stormwater facility has been properly maintained and is functioning as designed. The Town may require that this statement be signed by a Licensed Professional Engineer.
4. Failure to perform maintenance in accordance with the approved plan and conditions of permit shall constitute a violation of the land use approval, and may result in enforcement action.
Waterford Stormwater Management Plan
Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
BMP 5-4 Post-Construction Inspection and Maintenance
The program will:
- Continue existing program of Post-Construction inspection, maintenance, and enforcement of regulations,
- Develop an inspection checklist to assist town inspector and contractors in compliance with the stormwater management practices.
Goals:
The goal is to continue to provide a sufficient level of inspection and enforcement to ensure that stormwater control measures are maintained properly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size project needs an Operations and Maintenance Plan in Waterford?
Any development disturbing one-half acre or more. That triggers the requirement for a full Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan or Stormwater Management Plan before development can occur, with the O&M Plan submitted as part of the same application package for Commission approval.
What has to be included in Waterford's Operations and Maintenance Plan?
A fairly complete package: system owner contact information, the party responsible for maintenance and how future owners will be notified of that responsibility, routine and non-routine inspection tasks with a schedule and required professional qualifications, an annual maintenance inspection report outline, a maintenance log, a scaled site plan showing all facilities and discharge points, public safety feature descriptions, an estimated budget, a funding source, and the seal and signature of a registered Connecticut Professional Engineer.
What counts as a nuisance condition Waterford's O&M Plan is meant to prevent?
The regulations specifically call out flooding, erosion, pollutant discharge, excessive algal growth, overgrown vegetation, mosquito breeding, unsightly debris, and impairments to public safety and health. The O&M Plan exists to keep a stormwater system functioning well enough that none of these become a problem.
Do I have to notify Waterford before doing repair work on my stormwater facility?
Yes, for non-routine maintenance and repairs. You have to identify the need through regular inspection, then notify the Commission or its designated agent before starting the work, and complete it in a timely manner to keep the facility functioning properly.
Do I have to certify my stormwater system's condition every year in Waterford?
Yes. The responsible party has to submit a signed statement to the Waterford Planning office once a year confirming the facility has been properly maintained and is functioning as designed. The town can require that statement be signed by a Licensed Professional Engineer rather than the property owner directly.
What happens if I don't maintain my stormwater facility according to Waterford's approved plan?
It’s treated as a violation of your land use approval, which can trigger enforcement action. Since the annual certification requires an affirmative statement that maintenance actually happened, a lapse tends to surface directly rather than going unnoticed.
How does the Town of Waterford itself track compliance across properties?
Through an ongoing post-construction inspection, maintenance, and enforcement program described in the town’s Stormwater Management Plan. The town has also developed an inspection checklist specifically to help both town inspectors and contractors stay consistent in applying the stormwater management practices.
How can AQUALIS help my property stay compliant with Waterford's stormwater requirements?
AQUALIS helps Waterford property owners prepare the Operations and Maintenance Plan required at the half-acre threshold, manage the annual certification submission to the Planning office, and stay ahead of non-routine repair notifications before a maintenance lapse becomes an enforcement issue.
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.
