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Stormwater Management Facility

We can help your neighborhood

Save a stream

Stormwater Management Facilities (SWMFs) or Best Management Practices (BMPs) are a key component of any land development project whether it is a residential community or a shopping center. SWMFs help improve water quality of streams by removing pollutants from rainwater. As rainwater falls on the ground and runs across the surface as stormwater, it collects leaves, grass clippings, pet waste, litter, lawn fertilizers, pesticides and more, whatever it meets washes into our streams by stormwater. Virtually all-new development in James City County includes facilities known as BMPs, to treat the stormwater and minimize the negative effects on our waterways.

BMP Maintenance

The Stormwater Division is inspecting BMPs throughout the County to identify potential problems in order to provide technical assistance to the BMP owners. These BMPs need periodic maintenance to ensure that they function as designed and to prolong their effectiveness. Responsibility for this maintenance is assigned to the BMP owner(s) through a Declaration of Covenants for Inspection/Maintenance.

BMP Education

The Stormwater Division routinely hosts workshops for BMP owners, and has information that describes how to maintain stormwater facilities. We will also present information to Homeowner Associations (HOAs).

Contact Pat Menichino at (757) 259-1443 to schedule.

Click here to view presentations from our most recent workshop:

BMP Workshop 1

BMP Workshop 2

BMP Workshop 3

James City County’s Private SWMF program

Because SWMFs help lessen the impacts of development, they are required under the County’s Chesapeake Bay ordinance, as well as State and Federal law. Currently there are over 600 SWMF in our county. The Stormwater Division inspects all SWMFs every three years using an industry standard reporting form and a copy is mailed to the owner. To help us with future correspondence, please provide us with any changes such as the contact person for your community, mailing and email address, and phone number. Updates may be sent to stormwater@jamescitycountyva.gov or you may call 259-1443.

Responsibilities of SWMF owners

The property owner where the SWMF is located has legal responsibility to provide basic annual maintenance and to make any repairs that may be needed. Typical SWMF owners are homeowner associations (HOA), private communities, commercial retail properties and business property owners.

A Team Effort

In addition to the Inspection Report, the County's Stormwater Division provides owners with education and guidance of basic SWMF maintenance and repair. The division maintains copies of engineering plans and construction drawings for all SWMFs and has the expertise to advise owners how to keep them in compliance with the County Ordinances.

Additional Information on SWMF Related Issues

SWMF Inspection Form
SWMF Glossary and Basic Maintenance Information

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