Do it the morning after, not a week later
Sediment settles, debris gets swept up by landscaping, and evidence of a real drainage problem disappears within 48 hours. The morning after the storm — even if it's still drizzling — is when you actually learn where your system struggled. Bring a phone, a flashlight, and a notepad. No tools needed for the walk-through.
Every grate and inlet
- Is the grate clear or covered in leaves/plastic?
- Is there standing water directly on top of the grate (means the sump is full or the pipe out is blocked)?
- Is there a sediment fan around the inlet on the pavement (means material moved through in volume)?
- Any oil sheen visible on standing water nearby?
Photograph every one — even the ones that look fine. The clean-inlet photo is what proves you looked when a board member asks in November.
Every low spot
Walk the parts of the lot or driveway that you know pool. If water is still standing more than 12 hours after the rain stopped, that's a failed structure or a blocked pipe run, not just "a lot of rain." Note the location and depth (rough — "ankle deep at the SE corner of building 3" is enough).
Every outfall you can safely reach
On sites with a pond or a direct-to-canal outfall: is water still flowing out? Is there scour behind the headwall? Any floating debris caught on the trash rack? Coastal sites — check outfalls at low tide, not high; a jammed outfall shows itself when the receiving water drops away.
Ponds and control structures
Pond level should draw down within 72 hours to the design elevation. If it's still above the control-structure crest four days later, the bleeder is blocked or the structure has failed. This is a fast call to your recertification engineer; also worth a targeted vactor visit before the next system.
The file entry
One document per storm. Storm name, date, walk-through time, photos organized by structure ID, notes on any anomaly, and — if you called anyone out — the invoice and service report. Three of these a season and your ERP recertification file assembles itself.
When to escalate to a crew
- Any inlet with standing water on top 24 hours later
- Any hydrocarbon sheen
- Any low spot holding water 48+ hours after the storm ended
- Any pond not drawing down on the design schedule
Companion reading: hurricane season prep checklist, tidal outfall guide, and stormwater inspection service.
