What is Storm Water?
Storm water is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into water commonly called storm sewers. These are the drains you see at street corners are at low points on the sides of the streets, collectively, the draining water is called storm water runoff.
Don’t Let Storm Water Run Off With Your Time and Money!
What the Construction Industry Should Know About Storm Water in Our Community
The construction industry plays an important role in improving our community’s quality of life by not only providing new development, but also protecting our streams and rivers through smart business practices that prevent pollution from leaving construction sites.
Storm water runoff leaving construction sites can carry pollutants such as dirt, construction debris, oil, and paint off-site and into storm drains. In our community, storm drains carry storm water runoff directly to local creeks, streams, and rivers with no treatment. Developers, contractors, and home builders can help to prevent stormwater pollution by taking the following steps.
- Comply with storm water permit requirements.
- Practice erosion control and pollution prevention practices to keep construction sites “clean”.
- Conduct advanced planning and training to ensure proper implementation on site.
Storm Water Permit Requirements for Construction Activity
Planning and permitting requirements exist for construction activities. These requirements are intended to minimize storm water pollutants leaving construction sites.
- Pennsylvania’s Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program (25 Pa. Code, Chapter 102) requires Erosion and Sediment Control plans for all Earth disturbing activities.
- The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program requires that construction activities disturbing greater than one acre submit a notice for intent for coverage under a general NPDES permit.
Knowing your requirements before starting a project and following them during construction can save you time and money, and demonstrate that you are a partner in improving our communities quality of life. For more information about these programs, contact your local county conservation district office for the department of environmental protection.