If curb inlet filters are not used, the damage to the environment and to the contractor’s profits can be devastating. Stipulations of the Clean Water Act include considerable regulations directing construction site operators to provide inlet protection solutions at all times, from before the ground is disturbed until after the job has been completed. If these regulations are not met, large fines totaling thousands, if not millions, of dollars can result.

Fortunately, complying with regulations is not difficult or very costly. Simple, affordable inlet protection products are available, and if you deal with the right company, you can get exactly what you need to protect the environment and be compliant with the law in no time at all.

Curb Inlet Roll

Curb inlet rolls are used to protect inlets that don’t have storm grates. Made from a durable, porous material, these inlet protection filters simply sit flush against a curb directly in front of an inlet, allowing only water to slowly seep through. Sediment and debris carried in water running off of a site is caught by the roll prior to entering the inlet.

Top quality rolls feature a built-in protective overflow design for reliable performance in even the heaviest of rains, and they are specially designed to conform to the shape of any curb, making it quick and easy to get an impermeable seal. Some also offer the option of adding an oil absorbent filter to safely and securely whisk oil away from water as it passes through the roll.

Maintenance of quality curb inlet rolls couldn’t be easier. Simply remove all accumulated sediment and debris from the roll and its vicinity after each rainfall, and it’s ready for use again. If optional oil absorbent filters are used, just remove and replace them when they near saturation.

Curb Inlet Bag

Curb inlet bags are made to be used with curb inlets that have storm grates. These products feature a bag that encases the storm grate and a roll that sits against the curb, providing a double-layer defense against sediment and debris. Water slowly seeps through the bag and into the inlet while pollutants are trapped inside.

Premium quality curb inlet bags install in minutes and are designed to quickly conform to the shape of a curb for a sediment-resistant seal. Sizes to fit any curb and gutter inlet are available, and some models offer the option of adding an oil absorbent filter.

Maintenance on these bags is as easy as sweeping debris and sediment away from them after it rains, and emptying them when sediment and debris accumulates inside of them. If oil absorbent filters have been used in the bag, they should be replaced as they near saturation.

When they are used and maintained correctly, curb inlet bags should last a long time and reduce or completely eliminate the need to flush or clean inlets. This saves contractors a lot of money, while keeping them compliant with the law.

Curb Inlet Sack

Also for use with curb inlets that have storm grates, the curb inlet sack features a curb roll on top and a sack that hangs below the inlet grate. Water running into the grate enters the sack, where it slowly filters through while sediment and debris become trapped.

The open-top design of the curb inlet sack allows for easy visual inspections and compatibility with any size curb and gutter inlet. The roll conforms to any shape curb, and optional oil absorbent filters allow the curb inlet sack to perform an important double duty.

Quality curb inlet sacks feature handy lifting straps that make them easy to install, remove for maintenance and put back into place. When used properly, they should reduce the need to flush or clean inlets, saving a lot of valuable time and money.

When shopping for inlet protection solutions, ask about the durability, ease of use and reliability of any products you consider. Find out if they’re reusable, and if they allow for the addition of oil absorbent filters to take care of two jobs at once.

Make sure you deal with a reputable company that knows the laws, sells only regulation-compliant units, and can answer your questions and get the products you need in a hurry. A little bit of homework now will save you a lot of time and money in the long run and free you up to handle bigger tasks at hand.

© 2010 Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products http://www.dandyproducts.com, an industry leader in stormwater control and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money. You have permission to share this article and add it to your website or blog, provided you leave this resource box in place.

Construction site sediment control is a very basic and important responsibility. The Clean Water Act (CWA) passed in 1972 is updated continuously to regulate storm water runoff and minimize pollutants in our nation’s water.

Under the CWA, construction site operators must take considerable measures to ensure that sediments, debris and other pollutants from their sites are contained so that they are not allowed access to waterways. Those who fail to do so face hefty fines – often in the thousands, and sometimes in the millions, of dollars.

The cost of complying with sediment control regulations is minuscule compared to the expense of defying them. Today’s sediment control products are affordable, easy to use, and built to last. They’re a wise investment that saves time and money on construction sites.

Sediment Control Products for Storm Grates

Sediment control filters for storm grates are available in bags that enclose the grates, sacks that suspend underneath them, and pop-up bags that encase them while diverting storm water. All feature porous material that allows water to seep through, while containing sediment and debris for safe disposal. These products take the worry out of blocking off grates with flimsy silt fences or makeshift barriers, and they keep construction sites compliant, even in the midst of extremely heavy, sediment-laden storm water runoff.

Oil filters that skim and absorb oil from storm water can be placed inside of these units, providing a dual duty with very little added effort. When a filter is nearly saturated with oil, it can be removed and replaced in seconds.

Maintenance of storm grate bags, sacks and pop-up bags is very simple. Just remove accumulated sediment and debris from the surface and vicinity of the units after each rainfall, and remove sediment from inside as needed. With this little bit of care, these easy-to-use products can provide consistent, reliable, money-saving performance.

Sediment Control Products for Curb Inlets

Different products are offered for sediment control within curb inlets, depending upon whether those inlets have storm grates or not. For curb inlets without grates, sediment control solutions can be as simple as specially manufactured rolls placed in front of the inlets.

Curb inlet rolls consist of a porous, durable fabric that allows storm water to slowly seep through while keeping sediment out. Top quality rolls are designed to conform to the shape of any curb, making them extremely easy to install. Some even feature an overflow design to help the roll continue to work in very heavy rains.

After each rainfall or watering event, simply inspect curb inlet rolls and remove all sediment and debris from them and the vicinity. Quality rolls are very worry-free and can be used over and over, making them a wise investment of both time and money.

For curb inlets with storm grates, bags and sacks offer reliable inlet protection. The curbside storm grate bag is like a regular storm grate bag and a curb inlet roll combined. The storm grate fits inside, while a roll on top of the bag sits against the curb. This provides a double line of defense against sediment and other pollutants.

The curb roll also can be found on storm grate sacks. Unlike bags, sacks do not enclose the grates, but instead feature an open-top design. Water runs into the grate and becomes suspended by the sack, filtering through it slowly while sediment and debris are captured for safe disposal.

Oil absorbent filters can be used with inlet rolls, bags and sacks. As with storm grate products, this option allows developers to stretch their dollars and save time by setting one product up to perform a double duty. Maintenance on the filters is as easy as removing and replacing them when they are near saturation.

Curbside bags and sacks should be checked regularly and cleaned to keep them performing at their best. Debris and sediment in their vicinities should be swept away, and any debris should be removed from the top of the bag. When sediment and debris accumulates inside of the bag or sack, the product should be removed from the grate and emptied.

Maintenance for all of these products should be quick and easy and when performed regularly, curb inlet protection products should offer reliable, reusable service for extended periods. This combined with the fact that quality curb inlet protection products should eliminate or reduce the need to flush or clean inlets, means these products, like the rest of the sediment control products mentioned here, can save companies valuable time and money while keeping them compliant with the law.

Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products, an industry leader in storm water management and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money.
 

Curb inlet protection is the right thing to do for the environment … and it’s the law. Proper curb inlet protection helps to prevent sediment, chemicals and debris from entering storm water systems and ending up in our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. These types of pollutants are very common on construction sites, and when they’re picked up in storm water runoff and washed through curb inlets that have not been filtered properly, they do significant damage to our environment.

Waterborne construction site pollution destroys aquatic habitats, kills wildlife and can cause stream bank erosion. It’s a serious matter, and sites that don’t employ inlet protection solutions face serious fines.

Failure to meet state and federal regulations regarding inlet protection can cost developers and contractors thousands, if not millions, of dollars in fines. Take, for instance, a case involving one of the largest luxury homebuilders in the Southeast and Midwest. In late August of 2009, the builder was fined more than a half million dollars for not providing proper inlet protection at its projects. The good news for them is that they can pay the fine in four annual installments. The bad news is interest will be accruing.

Just days after that case was settled, a real estate developer in North Dakota was fined $37,500 for allowing chemicals and concrete sediment to wash into nearby storm drains. Both of these companies could have saved a lot of money simply by using regulation compliant inlet protection products.

Professional inlet protection products, along with invaluable, time-saving advice on laws concerning construction sites and the environment, are simply a phone call away. Developers and contractors can rely on a reputable company specializing in inlet protection products to provide them with information and quality products that will help their sites run more efficiently and cost effectively while obeying laws and protecting the environment.

Products made for curb inlet filtration include rolls that are placed in front of curb inlets without storm grates, and bags and sacks that are anchored below grates. All of these products, when professionally designed, should conform to curb shapes to properly guard against pollutants making their way past them.

Rolls, bags and sacks are made of special materials that allow storm water to slowly seep through them, while trapping sediment and debris for safe disposal. Some allow for the addition of absorbent filters that soak up oil, another common pollutant at construction sites.

All curb inlet protection products should eliminate, or at least reduce, the need to flush or clean inlets. When shopping for them, compare the aforementioned features and look into how each is installed, inspected and maintained. Ease of use counts for a lot on a construction site, where time is money.

Make sure the products are reusable, too. Quality curb inlet protectors should be able to be cleaned out and used time and time again, making them an even wiser investment.

Of course, ensuring that curb inlet protectors are compliant with current laws is of paramount importance, and this, again, is achieved most easily by relying on a reputable inlet protection company. These companies make it their business to know the laws and to manufacture products within them, so seeking their guidance can save construction professionals many hours – and headaches – trying to find and comprehend the most recent regulation developments.

Provisions for proper inlet protection should be made before the ground is disturbed at any work site. A detailed listing of inlet protection solutions, as well as other measures being taken to prevent storm water runoff pollution, must be included in a construction company’s storm water pollution protection plan (SWPPP). The SWPPP is a prerequisite to getting a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit, which must be obtained prior to work beginning.

NPDES permits are issued in the state where the work is being done, except for in a handful of states and in most Indian territories, where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the issuing authority. Information on each state’s permits and applications can be found at www.cicacenter.org

Details on SWPPP requirements can be found in the Stormwater Resource Locator, which is part of the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website. In addition, the EPA has published a free downloadable handbook explaining how to create and implement an SWPPP. Entitled Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites, this book includes a two sample SWPPPs, a customizable SWPPP template and a sample inspection form.

These tools, combined with the right inlet protection company, can have you ready to break ground in no time. Getting compliant – and staying compliant – really isn’t hard to do when you know where to turn for help.

© 2010 Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products http://www.dandyproducts.com, an industry leader in stormwater control and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money. You have permission to share this article and add it to your website or blog, provided you leave this resource box in place.
 

Curb inlet protection is one of the first measures developers must take before beginning any new project where inlets are located. Local, state and federal laws include mandates for inlet protection filters on construction sites to prevent sediment and debris from washing into storm water systems. Such pollutants, if allowed to enter storm water drains, can end up in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans, where they destroy habitats, can hinder reproduction of aquatic animals, and kill wildlife.

The Clean Water Act now states that operators of any construction site occupying one or more acres of land (and smaller ones related in any way to larger developments or sales) must apply for and receive a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit prior to beginning any project.

NPDES permits are granted in the state where the construction will take place, except in Massachusetts, Idaho, Alaska, New Hampshire and New Mexico – and in most Indian territories – where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the issuing authority. Permit applications and information are available here.

Every NPDES applicant must submit a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). Within this plan, any and all sources of pollution that could be washed from the applicable construction site into storm water inlets and waterways must be identified. In addition, a detailed description of curb inlet protection methods that will be used to prevent storm water pollution must be included. The Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website features a Stormwater Resource Locator, which details SWPPP requirements for every state.

The EPA offers a free downloadable handbook explaining how an SWPPP should be developed and applied. The book, entitled Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites, includes a customizable SWPPP template, two sample SWPPPs and a sample inspection form.

Once NPDES permits are granted, construction sites must, of course, remain compliant with the laws at all times. Violations can result in significant fines.

In late August of 2009, a former eco award-winning builder of planned communities and timeshare resorts was fined more than a half million dollars due to charges that it had violated the terms of NPDES permits and failed to provide proper inlet protection in three states. The builder was ordered to pay its $513,740 penalty in four annual installments, plus interest.

Not long after that case was settled, a real estate developer in North Dakota was fined $37,500 after inspections found that concrete sediment and chemicals were being allowed to enter nearby storm drains. This fine, and many others, could be avoided simply by employing proper inlet protection on construction sites.

Inlet protection solutions are not hard to come by. Companies specializing in inlet protection offer advice and products for every situation.

Rolls made of a special, durable fabric can be placed in front of curb inlets without storm grates. Storm water slowly flows through the roll into the inlet, while sediment and debris are trapped within the roll.

Quality rolls are specially designed to conform to the shape of any curb for easy installation, and feature a protective overflow design to handle heavy rains. Other features to look for in a curb inlet roll include ease of inspection and maintenance, and the ability to use an oil absorbent filter with it, should the need arise.

Curb inlets with storm grates offer more options for inlet protection, including bags and sacks that are anchored below grates to catch sediment and debris flowing through them. These types of filters allow storm water to slowly seep through, while keeping trapped materials safely stowed for proper disposal.

When shopping for inlet protection to be used with storm grates, look for quality designs that conform to curb shapes and consider how easy each product is to install, inspect, maintain and reuse. As with curb rolls, some sacks can be used in conjunction with oil absorbent filters for a necessary layer of protection against oily pollutants.

All professional curb inlet protection products should eliminate or reduce the need to flush or clean inlets, saving the companies that own them valuable time and money. Construction companies also save time and money regarding legal matters by utilizing an inlet protection professional. A reputable inlet protection company knows the law and only sells products that work reliably and meet regulation requirements.

© 2010 Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products http://www.dandyproducts.com, an industry leader in stormwater control and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money. You have permission to share this article and add it to your website or blog, provided you leave this resource box in place.
 

Anyone dealing with construction site regulation compliance issues knows that it’s not an easy job. Federal, state and local laws impact many facets of construction work, and keeping up with what seem to be constant changes can be overwhelming.

Compliance with the laws is vital, though, no matter how new they are. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes its job of enforcing laws very seriously, as evidenced on a page of its website listing companies that have made violations and the millions of dollars in fines they’ve received.

Of special concern on new construction projects is erosion and sediment control. Storm water runoff from construction sites carries with it enormous amounts of sediment and debris that, if allowed to enter waterways that feed into rivers, streams, lakes and oceans, will damage ecosystems and kill wildlife.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 now includes regulations mandating sediment and erosion control solutions for every construction site affecting one or more acres of land, and smaller ones associated with larger developments or sales. Before the ground on their sites is disturbed in any way, operators of these sites must submit erosion and sediment control plans detailing the erosion and sediment control solutions they will use to prevent erosion and control sediment runoff.

In addition to the erosion and sediment control plan, each construction site operator also must submit a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) and obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit prior to beginning any project. An SWPPP identifies every pollution source that could enter storm water runoff from a given site, and a detailed account of the actions that will be taken to control and filter sediment, thus keeping it and the pollutants out of waterways.

Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites, details the steps that must be taken to develop and execute an SWPPP. This free handbook from the EPA includes an SWPPP template that can be customized by each site operator, a sample inspection form and two sample SWPPPs. It’s applicable throughout the United States, in combination with state or EPA NPDES permits.

Though the NPDES is a federally regulated program, most states authorize their own NPDES permits. If work is being done in Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or New Mexico, however, or on most tribal lands within the U.S., permits must be obtained from the EPA.

The Storm Water Resource Locator found on the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website is a valuable tool for construction site operators. Use it to find NPDES permit forms, SWPPP requirements, and regulations for erosion and sediment control and storm water management for each state.

Of course, following the laws regarding erosion and sediment control is even more important than understanding them, and the easiest way to ensure complete compliance is to rely on products and expertise provided by a company that has made meeting regulatory requirements its business.

Erosion and sediment control professionals are available to help developers overcome even their most difficult site challenges, with know-how and products for every need. One call to a sediment control expert can save a company countless hours of research into the law and sediment control methods, not to mention thousands – if not millions – of dollars in fines if regulations are not met precisely.

Once professional sediment control products are on a construction site, they continue to save contractors time and money. They’re made for quick installation, so they can be set up in minutes and then virtually forgotten about until runoff occurs.

Products are available that sit in front of curb inlets, within curb inlets, around and under storm grates, and more. All are made to allow storm water to pass into storm systems while filtering sediment and pollutants out.

After a rainfall or any type of watering has taken place, professional sediment control products can be inspected and cleaned out easily. Sediment and debris trapped within the products’ filters are removed quickly, so the products can be reused time and time again, making them hassle-free and extremely cost efficient.

Finding a reputable, reliable sediment control company should be on any developer’s “to do” list when planning a project. Utilizing the expertise of a company dedicated to sediment control saves construction professionals valuable time, countless dollars and unnecessary worry by helping ensure complete compliancy with complex laws from start to finish.

Source:
© 2009 Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products, an industry leader in stormwater control and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money. You have permission to share this article and add it to your website or blog, provided you leave this source box in place.

Before breaking ground on any new site, developers must meet several legal requirements. Sites occupying one or more acres (and smaller ones affiliated with larger developments) cannot be disturbed without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit.

A prerequisite to getting this permit is the completion of a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP), which details all pollution sources at the applicable construction site that could become waterborne and storm inlet protection solutions that will be used to keep these pollutants out of waterways.

Without proper storm water inlet protection, sediment, debris and other pollutants can enter storm inlets and end up in rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. These pollutants wreak havoc on the environment, destroying aquatic habitats and killing wildlife.

There are many storm inlet protection products available on the market today that keep pollutants out of inlets, and help ensure that construction sites remain compliant with the law. These products act as storm inlet filters, catching storm water runoff just before it enters inlets and allowing water to slowly seep through while sediment and other pollutants are held for safe disposal. Some of these products can even house optional oil absorbent filters so oil, along with other construction site pollutants, is separated from storm water and kept from entering waterways.

Of course, all storm water inlet filters are not made alike, so construction site operators should purchase quality products from reputable storm inlet protection specialists to ensure that they remain compliant with current laws. Companies specializing in sediment control and inlet protection solutions make it their business to keep up with regulations, so consulting their expertise can save developers valuable time researching the laws and thousands – if not millions – of dollars in potential fines.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is vigilant about enforcing the Clean Water Act, which includes many stipulations about construction sites and the preventative measures site operators must take to keep sediment and other pollutants out of storm inlets. Violators of the Clean Water Act are prosecuted regularly.

In August of 2009, one of the largest builders of planned communities and timeshare resorts in the Southeast and Midwest was fined more than a half million dollars for violating the terms of its NPDES permits. According to the EPA, the builder had failed to provide proper inlet protection on sites in three separate states. The $513,740 penalty will be paid in four annual installments, plus interest.

Just days after that case was settled, a North Dakota real estate developer was charged with allowing concrete sediment and chemicals to run into unfiltered storm drains. The $37,500 fine the developer incurred far exceeded what could have been paid for proper inlet protection in the first place.

In addition to contacting a company specializing inlet protection products, developers can gain useful information about storm water protection regulations and other laws applicable to construction sites on the Internet. On its site, the EPA offers a free downloadable how-to booklet to help construction professionals create and employ an SWPPP. Entitled Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites, this book features two sample SWPPPs, a customizable SWPPP template and a sample inspection form.

Information about SWPPP requirements for each state can be found in the Stormwater Resource Locator, one of many helpful features on the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website. NPDES permit applications and other information also are available on the site. To learn about NPDES permits in your state, click here.

When you’re ready to select the inlet protection products that will be put into your SWPPP and on your site, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. These products should perform reliably, keeping sediment and other pollutants out of our waterways to protect our environment and keep you fine-free. They should be easy to install, easy to inspect and a breeze to maintain so that you can use them time and time again.
They should be made from quality materials by industry leaders who understand regulation compliance. They should be sold with pride by a company you can trust to answer your questions, offer friendly, expert advice and deliver affordable, top quality products as soon as you need them, wherever you need them.

Storm inlet protection is a serious responsibility, but it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming one. Deal with a company that knows the business to keep you compliant, productive and profitable.

Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products, an industry leader in inlet protection solutions. Contact Dandy to make your next construction project CWA-compliant quickly, easily and affordably. 

Fines for not complying with state and federal regulations are unnecessary costs that reduce profits and can put you out of business. The good news is, fines can be avoided just by knowing the laws and obeying them.

Laws regarding construction site sediment control are especially easy to follow when you consult a company specializing in sediment control solutions. Professional sediment control products like the ones listed below are regulation compliant, durable and reusable, maximizing your investment and protecting your bottom line.

1. Storm Grate Bag

One of the simplest concepts in sediment control, this heavy duty porous bag slips over a storm grate, securely encasing it to protect the inlet. Storm water passes through the bag, while sediment and debris are trapped inside of it. Bags are made to fit grates of all shapes and sizes, and oil absorbent filters can be added inside to skim oil from water as it flows through.

Maintenance of the bag is very simple. Just remove accumulated sediment and debris from its surface and vicinity after each storm, and remove sediment from inside as needed. If an oil filter has been used, simply remove and replace it when it is almost saturated.

2. Storm Grate Sack

Extremely strong yet affordable, this popular sediment control filter features an open top design and is suspended below a storm grate rather than enclosing it. As water flows into the grate, it slowly seeps through the sack’s porous material while sediment and debris is captured for safe disposal.

Sacks can be used with oil absorbent filters, and are installed in minutes with handy lifting straps. They should be checked regularly and after each rainfall for accumulation of sediment and debris. When a sack needs to be emptied, it can be removed from the grate quickly, cleaned and reinstalled.

3. Pop-Up Bag

One of the smartest products to enter the sediment control market is the reusable pop-up bag, which completely encases field grates to eliminate sediment infiltration. Storm water is diverted away from the bag by its stand-up design, and that which does enter is filtered through the bag’s bottom prior to entering the storm inlet.

This double line of defense is very effective at keeping pollutants out of inlets, and its easy installation and maintenance make it a breeze to use. The bag pops up in seconds, and its domed design makes it quick and easy to clean. Accumulated sediment and debris should be removed from the panels and vicinity of the bag after each rainfall, and sediment should be removed from inside as needed. If oil absorbents are used with the bag, they should be replaced when they are near saturation.

4. Curb Inlet Roll

Curb inlet rolls are used at inlets without storm grates. They simply sit against a curb in front of an inlet, so that all water entering the inlet must pass through the roll’s porous material. As water seeps through, sediment is trapped inside.

Top quality rolls conform to the shape of any curb, making them extremely easy to install. After each rainfall, all sediment and debris should be cleaned off of them and away from their vicinities. Quality rolls are made to last, and can be used repeatedly.

5. Curb Inlet Bag

Curb inlet bags combine the aspects of a storm grate bag with a curb inlet roll. These bags encase curb inlet storm grates and feature a roll that sits against the curb, providing an extra line of defense against sediment and debris.

Designed to quickly conform to the shape of a curb, these bags are very easy to install and maintain. Debris and sediment should be swept away from the surface and vicinity of the bag after each rainfall, and sediment that accumulates within it should be emptied as needed. If oil absorbent filters are used with the bag, they should be replaced when they are near saturation.

When used and maintained correctly, curb inlet bags should eliminate or reduce the need to flush or clean inlets. This, combined with the fact that they are reliable and reusable, makes them a great saver of time and money.

6. Curb Inlet Sack

A combination curb roll and storm grate sack, the curb inlet sack features a roll on top and a sack that hangs below an inlet grate. Water runs into the grate and becomes suspended by the sack, where it slowly seeps through while sediment and other pollutants become trapped.

Its open-top design makes for easy visual inspections, and handy lifting straps make it a snap to install, remove for maintenance and replace. Optional oil absorbent filters should be replaced as needed, but the sack itself can be used repeatedly. Curb inlet sacks should reduce the need to flush or clean inlets, saving time and money for their owners.

7. Oil Filters

Because oil is toxic to the environment, keeping oil cleaned up on work sites is extremely important – not to mention legally required. Oil filters are available that skim water surfaces, absorbing oil before it can wash away. They can be used alone or in conjunction with other sediment control products.

8. Dewatering Bags

Dewatering bags provide an easy, cost effective way to deal with sediments during dewatering. When water is pumped from a site into a dewatering bag, it flows through the porous material of the bag while sediment and solids are contained inside it. This is more convenient than using sediment traps and other alternatives, and some dewatering bags can be used with oil absorbent filters to capture and contain oils in no added time.
Sediment control regulation compliance is easy with the right products. Contact a professional sediment control solution company today to protect yourself from costly fines.

Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products, an industry leader in storm water management and sediment control products. Contact Dandy for excellent, innovative products that will save your company time and money. 
 

Sediment control at construction sites is not only an environmental responsibility, it’s the law. To protect our waterways, the oceans and wildlife, regulations pertaining to erosion and sediment control have been in effect in the United States since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed in 1972.

Because any amount of storm water, debris and sediment discharged from construction activities can negatively impact water quality and ecosystems, today’s CWA includes mandates on sediment control for construction projects of all sizes. Those disturbing one or more acres of land – and smaller ones that are related to larger developments or sales – cannot begin until a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit has been obtained.

These federal regulations are implemented by state environmental agencies except for in Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Mexico, where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retains authority. (The EPA also governs NPDES permit issues throughout most of the Indian Country jurisdictions in the United States.) For your state’s construction storm water permit forms and instructions, you may want to check here: http://www.cicacenter.org/swp2.html.

A storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) is essential to obtaining an NPDES permit. Within an SWPPP, all sources of pollution that might be discharged from a construction site and in turn affect storm water runoff quality from the site must be listed. In addition, a detailed description of the measures that will be taken to filter sediment, debris and other pollutants from the site’s storm water runoff must be provided.

The SWPPP requirements for each state can be found in the Stormwater Resource Locator (SWRL) on the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website. Additional regulations pertaining to erosion and sediment control and storm water management on federal and state levels are included in the SWRL, as well.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites is a free downloadable handbook created by the EPA to detail the steps construction site operators must take to develop and implement an SWPPP. It includes a customizable SWPPP template, a sample inspection form and two sample SWPPPs. It’s designed for use anywhere within the United States, in combination with any state or EPA NPDES permit.
In addition to submitting an SWPPP and an NPDES permit application, construction site operators must develop and submit an erosion and sediment control plan prior to breaking ground. This plan must identify the specific preventative measures that will be used on each individual site to prevent and/or control sediment runoff and erosion.

Fortunately, the acts of controlling sediment and erosion are much easier than uncovering and understanding all of your state’s laws regarding them. And, if you rely on the expertise of an honest and reputable company specializing in construction site erosion and sediment control, your time researching the law and control methods, as well as your concerns about satisfying regulations in order to avoid costly fines, will be minimized greatly.

Companies dedicated to erosion and sediment control offer a number of products and services designed to solve erosion and sediment control issues at construction sites and keep these sites compliant with the law. Products that prevent sediment from entering storm water systems are available in an array of styles for various scenarios – from filtering rolls that fit in front of curbside storm water inlets to bags that enclose storm inlet grates, allowing water to seep through while trapping sediment and debris inside them.

Professional sediment control products are manufactured according to government regulations, and they’re made to be easy to install, inspect, maintain and reuse. Because they’re so hassle-free, they save valuable time at construction sites, and the dollars they save are innumerable.

Fines for CWA violations can be very steep. In late August of 2009, one of the largest luxury homebuilders in the Southeast and Midwest was fined more than a half million dollars to settle allegations that it had violated the terms of NPDES permits issued for housing developments in Missouri and West Virginia, and that it had allowed illegal storm water discharges in Arkansas. The $513,740 penalty heaped upon the company, which once was honored for its sound environmental practices, will be paid in four annual installments, plus interest.

Just days after that settlement was reached, a North Dakota real estate developer was fined $37,500 in civil penalties for violating CWA regulations. These cases are just two of many examples of the EPA’s crackdown on violators. To review some of the latest cases involving millions of dollars in fines, click here.

Fines, of course, can make a huge dent in a company’s profitability and in a worst case scenario, they can put a company in the red. It simply doesn’t make sense to risk fines by either ignoring the law or by trusting makeshift sediment control structures to be regulation compliant. One call to an erosion and sediment control professional can save your company money and can free you up to focus on other matters at hand.

For Additional Information
Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities (MYER)
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule - Small Construction Program Overview
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule - Construction Site Runoff Control Minimum Control Measure

Dan Cleveland is president of Dandy Products, an industry leader in storm water management and sediment control products. Contact Dandy to make your next construction project CWA-compliant quickly, easily and affordably.