• What is SWPPP Compliance?

A good storm water control plan always starts with a thorough Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).  A SWPPP not only specifies specific methods of controlling storm water onsite, but provides the required characterization information required by State and Federal regulations.

 

A “BMP” or Best Management Practice, is often thought of as an engineered or structural control used to control erosion, such as silt fence or detention ponds.  In reality, BMP’s are any product, structure or administrative control, such as an ordinance or written practice, which is designed to prevent, mitigate, or treat contaminated storm water runoff.

A good SWPPP will always include background information such as:

• Soil types

• Runoff coefficients for pre- and post-development conditions

• Characterization of existing water quality

1. Descriptions of existing impairments

• Existing rainfall information to know how much water you may need to address

Although there are many forms of stormwater management and BMP’s, the best BMP’s are the ones keep you from impacting storm water to start with. The easiest storm water contamination to treat, is that which never gets impacted to start with.  These types of BMP’s include:

• Limiting the amount of area exposed prior to construction

• Preserving natural stream buffers and maintaining native vegetation as long as possible

• Diverting upstream storm water runoff from around a site

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When all preventative measures have been taken Storm Water control from your site can begin in earnest.  These types of BMP’s will include:

• establishing perimeter controls

• beginning soil stabilization as soon as possible

• Establishing temporary vegetation

• Installation of BMP’s designed  to slow water velocity and further reduce erosion potential such as check dams and rip rap and other outlet protection

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Even the best SWPPP will not completely prevent all erosion from occurring, and when it does good BMP’s will help reduce sediment which can leave the site and wash downstream.  These types of BMP’s will include:

• Installation of tire washing stations or other track-out control

• Silt fence

• Inlet protection

• Sediment traps

• Well-designed and maintained outlet control