Sediment Control (BMP's) Best Management Practices require maintenance for success.

Keeping our waters clean requires creativity. Today, simply having the best performing solutions is not always what matters.

For example, in sediment control, many solutions have been invented to solve our water problems, so why are we continually hearing of issues with our waters?

• Contractors are enabled to bid on projects using solutions designed to handle 1 or 2 rain events.?
• Maintenance is not specified, maintenance is not budgeted, performance levels are not set.?
• Water quality is not the performance standard.?

How do we solve this? ?

• Establish maintenance schedules based on inspections.?
• BMP’s need overflows. (Above and below grate, both need overflows)?
• Properly protect curbs from side flow.?
• Do not raise grate more than 1/8 of an inch.?
• Inspect every .48-inch rain event &/or every 2 weeks?
• Clean &/or Replace BMP once 30% full, solution is soil laden, or failure has occurred.?
• Measure turbidity following BMP for true water quality.?

• Establish maintenance levels and schedules to be included in the bidding process.?

1. A BMP designed to handle a short-term project will require replacement following the above maintenance schedules.?
2. BMP's is designed to handle long term projects via replaceable filter sacks accompanying reusable frames. ?

Replacing Entire Unit for short term BMP's

1. ($150 product) replaced 12 times a year ($300/?Product removal and Product replacement)? $150 + $3300 = $3450/ year?

Replacing Filter Sacks for Long Term BMP's (Reusable Frames)?

1. ($350 product) replaced 12 times a year ($250/ Fabric Removal & Replacement w/ reusable frames) $350 + $2750 = $3100/ year?

• Communicate these maintenance levels and schedules as expectations to project managers, contractors, & inspectors. ?
• Protecting your underground infrastructure systems with water quality as the primary objective.?

Improving performance while making things easier. The above $350/ year saved per storm drain inlet does not even include the improved project management aspects.

Projects will have true and set costs. Unbudgeted costs such as stormwater maintenance, replacement, and reactionary repairs are minimized. Expenses to repair water quality downstream are minimized. Dollars already being spent to repair, replace, and clean utilities are drastically reduced. It all must start somewhere. What is wrong with here, and can we afford for it to not to be now??

www.Flo-Water.net?

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The Federal “C&D Rule” Permit Requirements?

All NPDES permits for construction stormwater must address the minimum federal effluent limitation guidelines for the construction and development point source category (referred to as “the C&D rule”).?

The C&D rule found in 40 CFR 450.21 establishes minimum NPDES effluent limitations, such as:?

1. Design, install, and maintain effective erosion and sediment controls, and pollution prevention measures, to minimize the discharge of pollutants;?

1. Stabilize disturbed areas immediately when construction has ceased and will not resume for more than 14 days;?

1. Prohibit the dewatering discharges unless managed by appropriate controls;?

1. Prohibit the discharge of:?

• Wastewater from concrete washout (unless managed by appropriate control), or washout/cleanout of stucco, paint, form release oils, other wastewater materials;?
• Fuels, oils, or other pollutants used for vehicles; and?
• Soaps or solvents to wash vehicles and equipment.?

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Link to 40 CFR 450.21?

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-450.21?

[74 FR 63057, Dec. 1, 2009, as amended at 79 FR 12667, Mar. 6, 2014]?

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All efforts to clean, reuse, repurpose, resource, & create waters would be honored if we could keep adjusting the floor to keep up with the ever-evolving ceiling. ?

To accompany this should be required maintenance schedules set in stone.?