Green Infrastructure Installation, Operation, and Maintenance

Green infrastructure must be properly installed and maintained throughout its lifespan to function as designed and provide the expected benefits. The specific tasks to conduct during construction and ongoing, routine operation and maintenance (O&M) depend on the type of green infrastructure. However, communities can take broader actions to develop robust maintenance programs and protect their green infrastructure investments beyond design. Municipalities are typically responsible for the long-term O&M of green infrastructure on public property. Residents or property owners are typically responsible for the long-term O&M of green infrastructure on private property.

On this page:

Installation
Operation and Maintenance
Municipal Operation and Maintenance Programs
Installation and Maintenance Resources

Installation

Proper construction is a crucial step in ensuring green infrastructure performs as intended. Many types of green infrastructure rely on appropriate soil and media types to filter pollutants and promote infiltration. As a result, it is important to ensure the media is not compacted or clogged during construction. Construction contractors follow the requirements and specifications laid out in approved design drawings to install well-performing systems. Best practices during installation may include:

Constructing green infrastructure after stabilizing the upgradient drainage area.
Using erosion and sediment control during installation to prevent sediment accumulation in media.
Avoiding the use of heavy equipment near green infrastructure after placing media to reduce the risk of compaction.
Scheduling the planting and establishment of vegetated green infrastructure appropriately, to ensure vegetation survives.

Operation and Maintenance

National Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater

A variety of erosion and sediment control measures that can help protect installed green infrastructure during construction are included in EPA’s construction BMP fact sheets. Many types of green infrastructure are included in EPA’s post-construction BMP fact sheets, which provide recommended maintenance tasks and frequencies.

Planning for and implementing maintenance is a critical component of achieving well-operating green infrastructure. Like all infrastructure, green infrastructure requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure it continues to function properly, is visually appealing, and reduce long-term maintenance costs. Periodic inspections are needed to assess the overall function of green infrastructure and determine if there is an issue that requires intensive maintenance beyond routine tasks.

Green infrastructure typically consists of plants, soil systems, or other permeable substrates to promote capture and infiltration or reuse of stormwater. Necessary maintenance for green infrastructure may include:

Weeding inappropriate, overgrown, dead, or diseased vegetation.
Removing accumulated sediment, trash, leaves, and debris.
Repairing areas with erosion, clogs, or structural damage.
Replacing components that become damaged or wash away (e.g., plants, shrubs, clean outs, mulch, permeable pavement).
Cleaning or refreshing permeable or engineered media.

Private Property Owner Maintenance

Municipalities should clearly convey to private property owners what their long-term O&M responsibilities are for green infrastructure that they own.

Maintenance is typically performed by the owner of the green infrastructure, whether that is the municipality or the property owner. Owners of property with green infrastructure should refer to their local codes and ordinances to determine their specific O&M responsibilities.

Municipal O&M Programs

Incorporating green infrastructure into an existing municipal O&M program or developing a standalone program for green infrastructure can help identify the resources and procedures needed to ensure long-term functionality. Consider the following actions to enhance the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green infrastructure.

Develop Maintenance Plans

Developing written maintenance plans and procedures will contribute to the success of a green infrastructure project. Maintenance plans may include elements such as:

Description of routine maintenance activities like weeding, mulching, trimming shrubs and trees, replanting, removing sediment and debris, and cleaning inlets or outlets.
Maintenance schedules.
Identification of the parties responsible for maintenance.
Inspection requirements and frequency.
Easements or covenants for maintenance.
Mechanisms for tracking scheduled or routine maintenance.
Training requirements for persons conducting inspections and maintenance.

If communities have maintenance plans or standard operating procedures for routine landscape and infrastructure maintenance, they should update these plans to incorporate municipal green infrastructure maintenance triggers and remedial actions. Additionally, if municipalities use contractors to maintain green infrastructure, they should include specific language in contracts that require maintenance crews to have appropriate qualifications to maintain green infrastructure.

Outside of routine maintenance activities, municipalities should establish a process to address issues and/or repairs that require corrective action (i.e., actions beyond routine maintenance activities, such as reinstalling plants in a rain garden).

Secure Funding for Maintenance

To ensure the continued success of a green infrastructure program, establish a dedicated funding source to cover ongoing maintenance costs associated with staff, equipment, and the replacement of green infrastructure components (e.g., plants, shrubs, permeable pavement). Sources of funding typically pursued for planning, designing, and implementing green infrastructure projects, such as state and federal grants and loans, generally cannot be used for ongoing maintenance. Communities with existing asset management programs should consider incorporating green infrastructure maintenance and dedicated funding sources into existing asset management programs. See the Municipal Programs and Policies section of EPA's Community Planning and Green Infrastructure webpage for more information.

Identify Staff and Resources for Maintenance

Green infrastructure maintenance generally requires more labor and less heavy equipment than maintenance of gray infrastructure. Routine green infrastructure maintenance is often the same as standard landscaping activities, though some types of green infrastructure (e.g., permeable pavement) may require specialized experience. Consider which municipal departments have the equipment and skill sets to inspect and maintain green infrastructure, such as parks or public works departments. Staff should be appropriately trained to conduct the inspection and maintenance tasks they are assigned. In addition, consider enlisting the help of volunteers. Some routine maintenance, such as removing trash and weeds from green infrastructure, can be accomplished by partnering with neighborhood organizations, greenway groups, or garden clubs to leverage their funds/volunteers.

Procure Equipment for Maintenance

Routine maintenance on vegetated green infrastructure is similar to general landscape maintenance and requires typical landscaping equipment. However, certain types of green infrastructure may require specialized equipment. For example, permeable pavement is best maintained using a vacuum-powered street sweeper. Heavy equipment, such as backhoes and front-end loaders, may be needed infrequently if green infrastructure requires replacement or if large amounts of sediment have accumulated. Note that heavy equipment is discouraged for routine maintenance because it can compact soil and damage roots, which reduces the effectiveness of the green infrastructure.

Track and Document Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection and maintenance schedules should be set for each type of green infrastructure, and a tracking system should be in place to ensure that maintenance is performed as prescribed. For communities with many green infrastructure assets to manage, using tools such as spreadsheets or asset management software can support the scheduling and tracking of inspections and maintenance work. Keeping organized records of what and when maintenance is conducted will allow communities to understand and manage the condition and performance of their green infrastructure and make the most out of their investment.

Community Education During Implementation and Beyond

The scale and location of a project will dictate the level of community involvement during implementation. Larger and highly visible projects should provide updates to the community on project schedules and any anticipated impacts to community resources. Municipalities should also educate community members on how green infrastructure in their community is supposed to function and look. For example, some types of green infrastructure are designed to retain water, whereas if other types of green infrastructure are holding water, that may be an indication of clogging. Community members should also be informed about the intended aesthetic, because some green infrastructure may look more natural than the public may expect. Lastly, it is particularly important to engage private owners of green infrastructure to ensure they are aware of their O&M responsibilities and know how their particular type of green infrastructure functions so they can identify potential issues.