SŌLitude Assists Delaware Church with Annual Project

By John Phelps, Environmental Scientist

On Saturday March 24^th, SŌLitude Lake Management attended the Brandywine Valley Baptist Church parishioner spring clean-up day. Volunteers came out to clean and make repairs to their church, tend to the landscaping needs and address the annual maintenance requirements of the stormwater BMP facilities on the property. The church, located in Wilmington Delaware, has a small bio-retention basin in the front of the property and a series of three sand filters in the rear parking lot.

SŌLitude Lake Management was there to educate the Church Maintenance Committee and parishioner of the different types of stormwater facilities found on the property, the design and functionality of each and the specific maintenance needs of those facilities. SŌLitude Lake Management also took a “hands on” approach to the specific maintenance for the bio-retention basin and the sand filters. Leaves and sediment was removed from the bio-retention basin and then a fresh top dress of mulch was applied. Sand within the sand chambers was agitated to allow better infiltration and sediment was removed from within and around the BMP.

Proper management for any type of stormwater management systems is essential to their functioning properly when it rains. Routine maintenance on those stormwater management systems reduces maintenance costs over time by addressing problems before they affect proper drainage and overall functionality of the BMP or basin. With the proper guidance, maintenance techniques can be developed and followed to assure a system is working properly every time it rains.