SWPPP – Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans

Best Management Practices for Preventing Stormwater Pollution

Federal and State regulations prohibit pollutant discharges to bodies of water and require that local governments implement stormwater compliance programs that protect water quality. This is primarily enforced through a document known as a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).

What is SWPPP?

Municipal, industrial and commercial facilities, including construction activities, military bases and shipping ports, that produce and need to dispose of wash water fall under the regulation of the Clean Water Act. Often times, that wash water comes in the form of contaminated stormwater that can potentially pollute water sources.

For an organization to gain approval to operate and to manage equipment and materials that could potentially contaminate stormwater, they must obtain a NPDES permit, and an important requirement of that type of permit is the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).

A properly constructed SWPPP accomplishes three things. First, it identifies any potential sources of pollution that could contaminate runoff from the regulated site. Second, the report should describe how those pollutants will be reduced or eliminated so that stormwater will be unaffected. Finally, a good report ensures that appropriate person at the site understand its environmental responsibilities and will work to meet the conditions of its NPDES permit.

Guide to Compliance

The requirements of a complete SWPPP are extensive and the official sample plans provided by your local regulatory branch should be consulted when developing your SWPPP. The following guidelines are meant to explain the SWPPP requirements that pertain to wash water and equipment cleaning. By following these guidelines, your company or organization will be better able to achieve compliance, and avoid EPA fines or stop work orders.

Identification of Potential Sources of Pollution

  • List all materials that could potentially pollute stormwater discharges and make provisions for containing those pollutants.
  • Identify what areas, ecosystems and water sources are at risk of being polluted by identifying the locations of all storm drains and points from which wash water could enter into the drainage system.

Preventing Pollution from Happening

  • Structural control measures such drain covers are often necessary to prevent polluted water from entering the stormwater drainage system.
  • Whenever possible, take steps to contain and prevent pollutants from threatening the drainage system
  • Wash equipment in a containment system where the wash water is collected and recycled or disposed of properly
  • Use prefabricated washout containers to properly dispose of wash water solids
  • Install a wash water reuse and treatment system for washing vehicles
  • Detail how equipment wash system should be operated
  • Use a wheel wash system on all vehicles before they leave the worksite to prevent track-out on public roads
  • List equipment and procedures that will be used to contain and clean up any toxic materials if a spill should occur
  • Detail how to properly disposal of any and all wash water, sediments and solids

Riveer and Protecting the Environment

Effective SWPPP requires a comprehensive and detailed system for stopping wash water pollution. That system should involve methods meant to conserve water, remove pollutants, contain wastewater, and respond to toxic spills. Riveer offers washing technologies to address those system requirements.

Riveer filtration systems collect dirty wash water, remove suspended solids, heavy metals, chemicals, microbes and other contaminates from that water, and then reuse that purified water. Wash water use is cut drastically, and the water this is used is filtered to totally eliminate the risk of pollution. These filtration systems ensure that your company is an environmentally compliant organization.

Riveer also offers wheel wash systems to eliminate track-out and spill response trailers to collect hazardous liquids in the event of a spill or accident. The pumping system in this equipment can recover 1000 gallons of oil, water, coolant, and/or chemicals in 25 minutes or less.

Training and Implementation

  • Train employees in the requirements of the SWPPP by clearly delineating who is responsible for each aspect of plan.
  • Test to determine if the preventative measures are working effective Record stormwater sampling data