Maintenance

You should generally inspect water sensitive urban design (WSUD) assets every three months for maintenance once the plants are established.

Higher levels of maintenance are needed for the first two years after construction. Inspect the asset while stormwater is flowing through the system to identify and fix any problems.

Once the plants are established and thriving, maintenance becomes much less intensive.

Types of maintenance

​Maintenance can be divided into two themes to avoid confusing responsibilities.

Pipes, pits and other drainage assets – drainage maintenance crews

Check for sediment build up, blockages and public safety.

Plants and soil – parks and garden maintenance crews

Check plant health, weeds and sediment build up.

Operation and maintenance plans should be required at design and construction stages, and all assets should be on an asset register with a maintenance schedule and budget.

Guidelines and training

We have provided generic WSUD maintenance guidelines to assist councils

Training is available through our Living Rivers team or Clearwater:

Common mistakes and issues

Common maintenance mistakes include:

  • maintenance staff not being aware of the asset or its maintenance requirements

  • not budgeting for maintenance

  • adding fertiliser or organic mulch to raingardens or around wetlands (not recommended) 

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