Building Green in Bowling Green Construction Site Stormwater Management Barry Tonning Tetra Tech
State and local rules require: Local and state permit coverage SWPPP available for review BMPs in the field that match the SWPPP Contractors’ weekly inspection forms available for review
Minimizing the active construction area
Consistency between what’s in the SWPPP and BMPs installed in the field Site Drainage Plan Site Building Plan Site Grading Plan Existing Site Conditions Final Site Land-scaping Plan Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
SWPPP Applicability, Preparation, Contents, and Process for Amending SWPPP applies to the site AND offsite borrow/disposal areas SWPPP is prepared BEFORE filing the NOI and beginning work SWPPP describes site, pollutants at site, plan for controlling pollutant discharges, construction procedure, & responsible parties SWPPP is amended by site personnel or project engineer as construction proceeds on an as-needed basis
Basic SWPPP outline Site description & map Description of receiving waters Description of construction project Identification of pollutants, sources, and any non-stormwater discharges Erosion & sediment controls Controls for other pollutants Procedures for inspections, BMP maintenance, and recordkeeping Certification & signatures
Building, stabilizing, and preserving the drainage system (ditches, traps, ponds)
Drainage system controls Inlets for storm drains and channels Pond up the runoff to settle & filter it Use rock berms, rock bags, or other items Storm drain & channel outlets Protect areas receiving discharge flows from erosion caused by flow velocities Use rock or turf reinforcement mats; seed heavily Ditches – convey water without eroding Traps – pond and settle out muddy runoff
Good application of silt fence and rock bags for inlet protection – Lots of options available
Other inlet protection approaches
Outlet Protection
Drainage ditch liner materials Steep or high flow channels (> 20%) Use concrete or riprap Moderately steep channels (~ 10%) Use riprap or turf mats & seeding Slightly sloping channels (~5%) Use turf mats or blankets & seeding Mostly flat channels (~2%) Use seeding with blankets Seed ditches immediately after construction Triple the seeding rate
Sediment traps & basins Designed & placed to pool runoff so sediment can settle out Installed before grading/fill work begins! Seeded immediately after construction Located in swales or low-lying areas where flows are concentrated Should not be placed near flowing streams Outlets should be made of rock or pipe
Rock filter as sediment trap
Good siting & installation of sediment traps
Protecting riser during construction. Wrap with filter fabric Protecting riser during construction! * Wrap with filter fabric * Use rock inlet dam * Pile #57s around pipe
Buffer zone requirements 25 ft undisturbed buffer between disturbed areas and bankfull elevation of high quality waters / impaired waters 50 buffer required between sediment-impaired waters with no TMDL and disturbed areas Dredge/fill areas, stream crossings, or other deviations require “adequately protective” alternate practices, explained in SWPPP
Buffer Zone Edge of Receiving Water is defined as bankfull elevation of a water of the Commonwealth
Slope stabilization
Slope protection basics Seed and mulch immediately after grading Divert upland runoff with berms or channels Tread-track or terrace highly erodible soils Install sediment barriers at toe of slope and at correct spacing on long slopes Use blankets, mats, or mulch on steep slopes Control runoff from upland areas with drain pipes or lined downdrain channels
Mass grading tips Install all downgradient silt fences, traps, basins before clearing & grubbing Use grubbed-out debris as sediment barriers / berms downhill from your work Use soil stockpiles as sediment berms / traps that intercept concentrated/sheet flow Seed and mulch/blanket/mat your ditches and slopes as soon as you build them
Blankets and mats (rolled erosion control products) Excellent for slope and channel protection Use blankets for slopes flatter than 3:1 and channels flatter than 20:1 Use mats for slopes greater than 3:1 and channels steeper than 20:1 KY TC requires blankets in all channels & slopes > 4:1
Wishful thinking . . . Silt Fence cannot handle large flows. This site needs erosion control or additional rows of silt fence.
Stabilization requirements Temporary stabilization required on portions of the site where construction activities have temporarily ceased shall be initiated within 14 days Final stabilization also required within 14 days after permanently ceasing work Final stabilization required if work is suspended for more than 180 days
Homebuilder lot BMP compliance
Effective best management practice applied to the maximum extent practicable? Passable practice that’s OK? Practice needs improvement, compliance assistance? Practice fails, cause for a notice of violation of water quality ordinance? I would need to see this first hand for more information. Your Comments:
Fiber roll installation
Good housekeeping & pollution prevention
Good housekeeping Mud tracking on roadways Fuel, oil, paint, hazardous waste mgmt Concrete washout sites Trash & debris management Sewage management Dust control (if needed)
Waste management Provide convenient, well-maintained toilet facilities
Establish proper building material handling and storage areas Building materials with runoff potential should be stored indoors or under cover
Designate concrete washout areas Or wash out material in formed-up areas ready for the next pour
Establish proper equipment/vehicle fueling and maintenance practices Your on-site fueling and maintenance area should have a spill kit Conduct vehicle fueling and maintenance activities in areas away from ditches Conduct maintenance on vehicles and equipment off-site if possible
Develop a spill prevention and response plan Note the locations of chemical storage areas, storm drains, ditches, and surface waters Specify how to notify appropriate authorities Describe the procedures for spill cleanup Identify personnel responsible for implementing the plan
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly The Good – stabilized exit pads, initial silt fence installation, initial inlet protection The Bad – temporary seeding/mulching, silt fence maintenance, inlet maintenance, waste and materials management The Ugly – ditch and channel protection, some homebuilder lots
Fair construction entrance; poor silt fence
Good fence, needs seed/mulch
Good inlet protection
Good stabilization on pipe job
Well vegetated sediment basin, with poorly vegetated inactive area in foreground
Poor vegetation and no sign of active grading
Unstabilized slope
Lot with poor vegetation and poor silt fencing
Lack of inlet maintenance and sediment management
Poor stabilization & drainage management Left – northwest corner discharge location, showing sediment in discharge. Right – stopped up curb inlet (lower middle) with pooled water. No grading occurring in this area.
Eroding, unstabilized drainage swale
Poor site stabilization, drainage system, and sediment trap construction & maintenance
Overflowing concrete washout
Vacant inactive site with poorly installed silt fence and poor vegetation
Poor soil stabilization, shaky silt fence, ineffective inlet protection
Torn and frayed
Poor site management