California Stormwater Compliance (SWPPP)

A compliant stormwater pollution prevention program, or SWPPP, involves site planning, BMP selection, scheduling, limiting disturbed soil areas (DSA), and best management practices (BMP) selection. Most importantly are the swppp inspection, swppp monitoring, swppp reports and documentation, weather tracking, sampling when necessary, and training. Stormwater Pollution Prevention, (SWPPP's) are becoming increasingly monitored by the EPA, California State and Regional water quality boards, city organizations, third party consultants, and the general public. To help avoid site visits and potential fines, the developer must be vigilant about implementing the SWPPP according to the general permit guidelines and according to their site specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

Scott Environmental stormwater inspectors have attend Stormwater courses and workshops and have received CESSWI Certification through EnviroCert International, Inc.,which is recognized as being a major qualification in the new 2010 General Permit. We are also CalTrans Certified Water Pollution Control Managers (WPCM), and can inspect and monitor CalTrans projects.

Scott Environmental helps assist General Contractors and Subcontractors with their SWPPP requirements by providing:

SWPPP consulting services (View More)

• Periodic SWPPP Inspection
• SWPPP Training subjects
• Interaction with with field staff and supervisors
• SWPPP manual review and updates
• SWPPP sampling and monitoring
• Weather Tracking
• Interaction with suncontractors & foreman (Construction)
• Interaction, plan, and coordinate SWPPP implementation with Resident Engineer (RE) - (CalTrans)

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans or SWPPPs, are crucial to aid in compliance with water quality requirements during the construction phase of new development and significant redevelopment projects. Pollutant discharges from construction sites can be effectively controlled. These discharges enter into storm drain water, which goes directly into channels and creeks, through wetlands and bays, and then into the ocean.

There are many factors that contribute to the reduction of pollutant discharges. Water from construction sites is one factor that can be a major transporter of sediments and other pollutants. Activities and materials used on construction sites may also be a source of pollutants. Items such as landscaping and soil residues, soaps and detergents, wood preservatives, herbicides and pesticides, equipment fuels, coolants, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, cleaning solvents, paints, lacquers, and primers all may be sources of pollution.

There are several ways these pollutants can be dispersed. They can be spilled, they can leak from heavy equipment, and they can be eroded by rain from exposed stockpiles or soils. Once these pollutants are released, they can be transported into the receiving waters of Southern California Counties. These pollutants may impair recreational uses, degrade drinking water sources, contribute to algal blooms, enter into aquatic food chains and cause fish toxicity problems.

Following is a description of the various regulatory permits that have been adopted to address the water quality impacts from construction site runoff. In early 2002, the San Diego and Santa Ana Regional Boards issued NPDES permits that regulate storm water discharge from municipal storm drain systems. The permits require the County and cities to implement a program to eliminate specific pollutant discharges from construction activities by requiring the implementation of appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) on all construction sites.

Practices, activities, or devices implemented to avoid, prevent or reduce pollution of municipal storm drain systems and receiving waters are classified as BMPs. The six general categories of BMPs are erosion control, sediment control, sediment tracking control, wind erosion controls, non-storm water management, and construction waste management.

There is also a General Construction NPDES permit that has been subsequently amended to include smaller construction sites. This permit applies to construction sites with one acre or greater of soil disturbance, or less than one acre but part of a greater common plan of development. In order to comply with the requirements of this permit, a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage needs to be submitted, a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) needs to be developed, and BMPs to address construction site pollutants need to be implemented.

County and City construction site requirements are coordinated with, but separate from the General Construction Permit. The General Construction permit applies regardless of whether a construction site discharges directly to a municipal storm drain system, or to receiving waters.

Construction projects are required to comply with two interrelated sets of municipal directives with respect to water quality management: (1) compliance with applicable discharge prohibition requirements set forth in the Water Quality Ordinance to prevent unauthorized non-storm water discharges, and (2) implementation of BMPs to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with the SWPPPs and local agency requirements, to reduce contaminants in stormwater discharges.

Follow this link to determine which Regional Water Board has jurisdiction of your project. The map is clickable. There is also a dropdown to the webpages of the individual water quality boards in California.

NEW - The State Water Quality Board has adopted a new General permit that will go into effect July 1st, 2010. Click for more details

CESSWI Mission Statement

The mission of the Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector (CESSWI) Program is to serve the public trust through the certification of individuals who are technically and ethically qualified to provide nationally consistent inspections of erosion, sediment, and storm water management practices for compliance with an approved site plan/Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) including compliance with applicable (local, state, provincial and federal) laws and regulations.