Storm Drainage: Damaged/Obstructed
(Inspectable Area: Site)
In this December 2022 issue of our HUD-REAC Monthly Newsletter, I am going to discuss the deficiency: Storm Drainage: Damaged/Obstructed which is recorded in the inspectable area: Site. ‘Tis the season for wet weather and I thought this deficiency was appropriate to discuss as well as the fact it can score up to 7.5 points!
Per the Federal Register
Deficiency: Storm Drainage: Damaged/Obstructed
- If the storm drains are structurally unsound/damaged, are blocked/obstructed by accumulated debris, or present other safety hazards.
Level 1: N/A
Level 2: The system is partially blocked by a large quantity of debris, causing backup into adjacent area(s)
Level 3: The system is structurally unsound/damaged or completely blocked, or a large segment of the system has failed because a large quantity of debris has caused:
- Backups into adjacent area(s)
- OR
- Runoffs into areas where runoffs are not intended
Important Notes:
- Damaged and Missing are synonymous words for HUD. In other words, if a storm drain cover is missing or damaged, that deficiency records as a Level 3!
- Many inspectors misrecord a missing/damaged drain cover under Sanitary Systems instead of under Site: Storm drainage. For example, the green landscaping drain covers that are damaged or missing are a STORM DRAIN deficiency…not a Sanitary System deficiency.
- Sanitary Systems and Storm Drainage are completely different. Sanitary waste goes to a treatment plant whereas storm drainage goes to local streams, rivers, oceans etc. There are still about 800 communities in the nation that have a combined system but HUD still separates the 2 unless proven otherwise on appeal.
