Common water quality impacts from construction sites with insufficient management practices include: sediment from soil erosion, construction materials and waste (e.g., paint, solvents, concrete) and spilled oil, fuel, and other fluids from construction vehicles & heavy equipment. If not properly managed, these pollutants may be picked up by stormwater runoff and flow to local creeks and San Francisco Bay. To prevent construction site discharges of pollutants into storm drains, SCVURPPP member agencies have implemented construction site inspection and control programs.
Elements of these programs include:
- Prioritizing which construction sites to inspect
- Recording inspection data
- Follow-up & enforcement actions
- Outreach & education – training construction site owners/contractors & related staff on stormwater pollution prevention practices at construction sites
Available resources describing best management practices (BMPs) for construction sites include:
Construction Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) Brochures
To educate residents and businesses on how to eliminate or reduce the discharge of pollutants from construction-related activities, the Program developed the following brochures describing best management practices for the construction industry.
- SCVURPPP BMP Plan Sheet
- Dewatering Activities (Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
- Road Work and Paving (Available in English and Spanish)
- Landscaping and Gardening (Available in English and Spanish)
- General Construction and Site Supervision (Available in English and Spanish)
- Earth-Moving And Heavy Equipment Operations (Available in English and Spanish)
- Painting and Application of Solvents and Adhesives (Available in English and Spanish)
- Home Repair and Remodeling (Available in English and Spanish)
- Fresh Concrete and Mortar (Available in English and Spanish)
CASQA Construction Handbook
The CASQA Construction BMP Online Handbook/Portal (opens in new window) provides guidance for selecting and implementing BMPs that will eliminate or reduce the discharge of pollutants from construction sites. It also details how to develop and implement stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) that document the selection and implementation of BMPs at construction sites. Only subscribers may access the BMP Construction Handbook/Portal. Municipal staff should contact their stormwater program coordinator for access to the Handbook through the SCVURPPP group subscription.