SWPPP plans are lengthy, complex documents that cover many aspects of adhering to the rules set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Because even a small error can be costly, many Utah construction companies, contractors and developers rely on Silver Leaf SWPPP to prepare their SWPPPs and to perform SWPPP inspections. An important part of the SWPPP concerns best management practices related to controlling pollution carried out of construction sites by vehicles.
Pollution can leave a construction site in many ways. One of the ones we deal with frequently as part of drawing up SWPPP plans is via erosion. Rain can wash away debris, silt, trash and other materials from a construction site, carrying it all into local storm drains, where it then makes its way to streams, lakes, rivers and other waterways.
However, there are other ways pollution escapes from a constructions site, and two of these are via wind and the wheels of the construction vehicles.
Construction sites can be messy and create untold levels of dust and dirt in the immediate area, much to the chagrin of neighbors. While little can be done to prevent dust from entering their homes through screened windows, one BMP is that helps is to take action to clean the streets. Streets can become soiled with dirt, silt, gravel and other substances that may be trucked in or off the site.
Silver Leaf SWPPP offers street sweeping services to clients that need to clean area streets as part of their SWPPP. Whether it is dust, dirt, gravel, debris or other substances, they are unwelcome on local roadways. We offer regularly scheduled street sweeping and one-time street sweeping.
Another way dust and debris gets from the construction site onto the street is by traveling on the wheels of construction vehicles. Construction sites are often notoriously muddy and dirty with few to no paved areas, and that means dirtier wheels.
One way to minimize this problem is to establish designated entrances and exits to your site and limit (within reason) where vehicles drive on the site. This way, you don’t have vehicles with all manner of contaminants stuck to their wheels entering and exiting the site at random spots.
When you have designated exits set up, you have better control over the vehicles entering and leaving your site. At the exit, you can set up wheel-washing stations to help control the pollution that gets trucked out onto the roads.
Wheel wash systems come in different sizes and varying levels of power, so you can purchase or rent the one that best suits your needs.
Alternatively, you may want to use trackout control mats. They are more economical, easy to move and done need a water source.
If you need help with your construction stormwater general permit, SWPPP plan, SWPPP inspections, erosion control solutions or any other aspect of SWPPP compliance in Utah, contact Silver Leaf SWPPP.
