Watch the video on Stormwater: Contamination.
When the heavy metal band Deep Purple sang about "Smoke on the Water", they weren't crooning about lead, cadminium, or thallium. But these heavy metals are exactly what today's builder needs to be on the lookout for when complying with the EPA's guidelines for stormwater run-off management.
Heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum products, and trash all pose a health risk to the public when they are washed off the jobsite and into storm drains. Storm drains generally just dump the water they collect directly into lakes, rivers, or the ocean, so it's very easy for fuel spills to travel with rain water and end up in fisheries or swimming areas.
To help regulate and reduce the amount of chemicals flowing into public waters, the EPA mandates that builders working on larger jobsites create a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). A SWPPP (pronounced "swip") details how the builder will contain soil erosion and prevent chemical run-off from the job site.
While Best Management Practices (BMPs) like silt fences and straw waddles are needed to keep soil from washing into storm drains, (check out the EPA's website for other BMPs) chemical and petroleum contaminations are often preventable through a little due diligence and training.
Here are a few ideas to prevent water contamination from jobsite chemicals:
- Always apply the minimum amount of fertilizer suggested by the manufacturer, and be sure to work the fertilizer into the soil to prevent it from being washed away. As with all chemicals, be sure the fertilizer is properly stored and covered to prevent accidental spills or leaks.
- Petroleum products like fuel or oil must always be properly stored and clearly labeled.
- Keep a fuel-spill clean-up kit handy on the jobsite at all times. This kit should include rubber gloves, goggles, a broom and dustpan, rags, a mop, cat litter (to absorb and contain fluid spills), and durable metal and plastic trash containers.
- Keep an eye on all vehicles on the jobsite and clean up any oil leaks or gas spills right away.
- Chemical or fuel spills that are large enough to reach the stormdrain system need to be reported to the National Response Center by calling 1-800-424-8802 or by submitting the spill information online.
- When concrete is being poured on site, be sure to use a drip basin to catch any spill. Also, never let concrete trucks wash out their drums or dump excess concrete onto the jobsite. Concrete should be disposed of in a certified area.
- Make everyone on the jobsite aware that leftover chemicals, paints, plasters, glues, or fuels can't be washed or poured down storm drains.
Even though federal and state regulations may not apply to a smaller builder, everyone benefits from cleaner waters, and a healthier environment. Making sure chemical spills are properly contained and cleaned up can also reduce the chance of future lawsuits or complaints from the homeowner. Larger builders who fail to contain chemical contamination to their site can face fines up to $25,000 a day, and risk work delays for inspections and testing.
By being proactive about minimizing stormwater chemical contamination, builders can keep heavy metals out of the water.
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