Clean Water Project Verification and O&M

The purpose of Clean Water Project Verification is to ensure that clean water project implemented with funding from CWIP are properly maintained and functioning as intended throughout their design lives. Verification involves regularly visiting clean water project sites and using visual indicators to determine the status and condition of a clean water project. These data are collected using Survey123, a mobile application described below.

Operation & Maintenance  

Clean water projects implemented through CWIP funding programs require a signed Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan and Agreement. For Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant funded projects, the O&M plan is included in the Site Access Agreement templates, which establish long term site access so verifiers, maintainers, CWSPs and DEC staff can access the project site to perform O&M tasks.

The O&M Plan offers a description for each clean water project implemented as part of the project. A table lists the location, practice type, design life, frequency of verification and maintenance, routine maintenance activities, and necessary equipment to conduct maintenance. 

Verification Visits 

Verification provides accountability for pollutant reduction benefits that count towards DEC Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) tracking and accounting purposes. Verification visits are not regulatory inspections and are not intended to meet regulatory requirements. Other DEC programs have their own methods for regulatory inspections. Regulatory visits and verification visits to a single project can be coordinated as appropriate to maximize resources. 

Survey123 Mobile Application

Survey123 is a mobile application that houses project-specific checklists used to collect standardized information and project photos during verification site visits.     

Reports

After site visits, data are uploaded to Survey123 database, a Verification report can be generated. The report shows an overview of data collected and an average clean water project functionality score. Low scores are flagged for follow up maintenance or repair with the CWSP or other O&M responsible party to restore project functionality. 

Resources & References 

Training

Training Resources

Tier 1: O&M of Clean Water Projects

• Presentation Slides
• Post Training and Reimbursement Request Form

Tier 1: Site Access Agreements

• Presentation Slides
• Site Access Agreement Templates
• Post Training and Reimbursement Request Form

Training Reimbursement

DEC has funding to reimburse eligible organizations for their participation in the DEC led O&M trainings and has contracted with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) to manage the reimbursement process. 

• View the Reimbursement Process One Pager

Verification Certification

Individuals interested in serving as verifiers will be required to attend verification trainings (Tier II). DEC V&M Specialist will be maintaining a list of training attendance. 

Resources and References

The development of the Clean Water Project Verification involved research and collaboration with partners. Visit the linked resources below to learn more. 

• Lake Champlain Sea Grant
• Seattle Public Utilities
• UNH Stormwater Center
• Chesapeake Stormwater Network
• Vermont DEC Stormwater Manual 
• VT Agency of Agriculture
• VT ANR Regulatory Programs
  • Rivers Program
  • Wetlands Program
  • Stormwater Program

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