Storm Outfall Inspection Logger
MS4 outfall screening log — dry-weather flow, visual/odor indicators, erosion and end-of-pipe condition with GPS; offline-first for stream walks.
New outfall inspection
MS4 programs typically dry-weather screen each major outfall at least once per permit cycle; many screen annually after ≥72 h without rain.
Field guide: Storm Outfall Inspection Logger
An outfall walking survey is the single highest-yield activity in a stormwater compliance program: most illicit connections are found not by chasing complaints but by walking the stream after three dry days and asking one question at each pipe — why is this flowing? This logger is structured around that screening: dry-weather flow class, then the standard indicator panel (odor, color, suds, sheen, floatables, bacterial slime) that EPA-style IDDE protocols use to grade suspicion.
End-of-pipe physical condition rides along in the same visit because erosion findings — scour holes, displaced riprap, undermined pipes — are how outfalls actually fail structurally. The export gives you both compliance evidence (screened on date X, GPS pin, indicators observed) and a maintenance list, from one walk.
Field tips
- Screen after at least 72 hours of dry weather — groundwater-fed trickles are common; sewage-fed ones are findings.
- Smell before you look: sewage and solvent odors are detected at a distance and disappear when you acclimate.
- Photograph the apron stains even when the pipe is dry — intermittent discharges leave a signature between events.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Storm Outfall Inspection Logger — MS4 outfall screening log — dry-weather flow, visual/odor indicators, erosion and end-of-pipe condition with GPS; offline-first for stream walks. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Storm Outfall Inspection Logger
An outfall walking survey is the single highest-yield activity in a stormwater compliance program: most illicit connections are found not by chasing complaints but by walking the stream after three dry days and asking one question at each pipe — why is this flowing? This logger is structured around that screening: dry-weather flow class, then the standard indicator panel (odor, color, suds, sheen, floatables, bacterial slime) that EPA-style IDDE protocols use to grade suspicion.
How to use Storm Outfall Inspection Logger
- 1Enter the outfall id and tap 📍 GPS to pin the outfall's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the outfall checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the No discharge / clean / Maintenance needed / Suspect discharge / Obvious illicit discharge scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Storm Outfall Inspection Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with EPA
Frequently asked questions
Is clear dry-weather flow always a problem?+
No — rising groundwater, springs and permitted discharges (e.g., uncontaminated pumped groundwater) legitimately flow in dry weather. But clear flow can also be a failing sanitary lateral upstream. The protocol is: log it, and if substantial or persistent, sample or trace upstream through manholes to classify the source.
What indicators most strongly suggest sewage?+
The classic trio is sewage odor, gray color with floatables (paper, hygiene products), and a dark bacterial/fungal mat where the flow runs. Suds with a fragrance suggest washwater (laundry cross-connection). Sheen with a petroleum smell points to a shop or fuel source. Multiple indicators together raise the grade to 'obvious'.
How do I trace an illicit discharge upstream?+
Work up the storm network from the flowing outfall, opening manholes until flow disappears — the discharge enters between the last flowing and first dry structure. Dye testing fixtures, smoke testing and CCTV close the last meters. This log's GPS-stamped outfall record is step zero of that investigation.
What's a 'major outfall' in MS4 terms?+
Typically a pipe ≥36 in (900 mm), or ≥12 in serving industrial land — permit definitions vary slightly. Permits require an inventory and screening of major outfalls; many programs sensibly screen everything they can walk to, since small pipes are where neighborhood cross-connections appear.
Embed Storm Outfall Inspection Logger on your website
Want Storm Outfall Inspection Loggeron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
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