In order to meet the standards set forth by the Clean Water Act, states, municipalities, and commercial businesses have had to adopt strategic controls to reduce the amount of pollution generated from wastewater.
Through the use of permitting and special applications, governments have forced commercial businesses to abide by such rules, utilizing detailed stormwater management plans to help meet regulatory goals.
These plans often involve best management practices (BMPs) designed to reduce erosion, pollution, and flooding caused by stormwater runoff from a worksite.
While most construction managers are familiar with the SWPPP, many local governments require additional planning, also known as stormwater quality management plans (SWQMP).
We’ll discuss how SWPPPs and SWQMPs differ and what best management practices they share to give you a clever understanding of your requirements.
Stormwater Management Plan (SWPPP): A Brief Overview
The SWPPP is the standard plan of action that companies draft to meet the stringent requirements of NPDES compliance. SWPPPs are also frequently required to apply for general construction permits to begin construction activity.
These plans are temporary in scope, covering the length of the project and ensuring that any disruption of the local environment is corrected and controlled.
Below, we’ve listed some essential features of the SWPPP for a greater understanding.
1. Site Assessment
The first stages of the SWPPP involve a thorough site assessment of the construction zone’s topography and potential sources of pollution. This step is necessary for drafting and choosing the proper controls to manage each potential variable.
2. Mitigation Measures
Next, specific mitigation measures must be taken to reduce the risk of soil erosion, sedimentation, and flooding due to excessive wastewater runoff. Other measures, such as emergency spill response plans and ongoing employee training, will be drafted to help teams meet their goals.
3. Compliance Monitoring and Record-Keeping
SWPPPs require meticulous record-keeping and regular inspections to ensure that mitigation efforts are meeting their intended goals. Often, SWPPPs will need to be changed or modified due to regulatory changes, weather effects, or other unknown variables.
What Is a Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP)?
SWQMPs are stormwater-focused plans permanently put in place after construction activity has ceased. SWQMPs are very common among building projects erecting permanent structures and need to install additional features, such as detention structures or bioretention areas, to mitigate the negative effects of stormwater runoff.
One way to think of SWQMPs is as a permanent extension of your SWPPP. We can easily imagine how temporary sediment basins can be phased into permanent detention structures inside a housing development project.
Another important point to consider is that SWQMP requirements are often put in place at the end stages of construction activity and the SWPPP.
When Is a SWQMP Required?
Counties and municipalities under strict regulation of phase I and II NPDES requirements, which manage MS4s (municipal sewer systems), often require SQWMPs to apply for building permits. These requirements will depend on the building and its construction activities.
For this reason, you must research local permitting and zoning requirements to ensure that you meet all requirements for an SWQMP.
How Does a SWQMP Differ from a SWPPP?
Aside from scheduling differences, SWQMPs differ from SWPPP in several important ways.
1. Pollutant Reduction Strategies
SWPPPs can be thought of as pollution prevention plans, while SWQMPs focus heavily on pollution treatment and removal from the water supply. For example, some common BMPs of a SWQMP plan may include:
- Filtration systems
- Bioretention gardens
- Stormwater conveyance structures
- Green roofs
- Permeable pavement
- Rain gardens
Since many temporary BMPs, such as silt fences, will be deconstructed after construction activity has ceased, permanent solutions need to be put in place to treat and filter wastewater properly.
2. Water Quality Monitoring
Piggybacking off of the previous point, continuous water quality monitoring is an essential part of SWQMP compliance. Some variables that building managers will look for include:
- Turbidity levels
- Pollutant concentration
- pH
3. Public Education
SWQMP plans often involve public outreach programs and marketing to the surrounding community to help projects meet green goals and advertise their efforts.
4. Regulatory Compliance
SWQMPs require additional regulatory compliance, depending on local and municipal laws.
Stormwater Management Best Practices
In general, SWPPPs and SWQMPs share many of the same best practices but only differ in scope. For example, some common BMPs shared amongst both plans include:
- Thorough Documentation and Planning: To acquire the right permits, you’ll need to show detailed documentation of all stormwater management plans.
- Erosion and Sediment Control Measures: Both stormwater management plans focus heavily on reducing soil erosion and loose sediment from excessive stormwater runoff to prevent pollution.
- Flood Protection: Likewise, stormwater management plans require controls to ensure that worksite discharge points don’t flood from excess wastewater.
- Ongoing Maintenance and Inspection: SWPPPs and SWQMPs are not static documents and require continuous revision based on inspection and maintenance requirements.
- Site-Specific Planning: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stormwater management. Most site managers and consultants will create a personalized approach that takes into consideration the unique topography and ecological features of your building site.
The Benefits of Hiring an Environmental Consultant
Navigating the complex regulatory landscape is often difficult for most construction and building managers. Environmental consultants simplify this task by handling all of your stormwater management planning and regulatory compliance needs.
Let the experts at Path Light Pro help you. With environmental consulting services that reach all 50 states, we can draft an SWPPP and SWQMP plan that meets the unique regulatory requirements of your state and municipality.
Contact us today for more information.
FAQs
How does SWQMP contribute to water quality?
SWQMP, or Stormwater Quality Management Plan, focuses on maintaining and improving the quality of stormwater runoff. It achieves this by identifying pollutants of concern, implementing best management practices (BMPs), and monitoring water quality. The goal is to ensure that stormwater discharged from a site is as clean as possible, safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Can a single project require both SWPPP and SWQMP?
Yes, a single project may require both SWPPP and SWQMP, depending on its nature and scope. For instance, construction projects that impact water quality may need a SWPPP during construction and a SWQMP for post-construction management. Some projects, such as industrial facilities, may need both plans to address different aspects of stormwater management.
Are SWPPP and SWQMP interchangeable?
No, SWPPP and SWQMP are not interchangeable. SWPPP primarily addresses pollution prevention during construction activities, while SWQMP deals with the ongoing management of stormwater quality for various facilities and industrial sites. They have distinct purposes, requirements, and focuses, although they may overlap in some cases.