CLICK HERE FOR THOSE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
To find a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC), go to
the CPESC.org
website.
Why Is Erosion a Problem at the Construction Site?
Erosion from construction sites is 10 times
greater than that from agricultural land, 200 times that from pasture land, and
2,000 times more than erosion from forest land. Soil eroding from construction
areas like building homes, businesses, industry or bridges, highways, and
streets, eventually makes it way into streams, rivers and lakes which then degrades
water quality. The amount of pollution from
construction areas is dependent upon the type and duration of construction,
amount of rainfall, soil characteristics, topography, degree of slope, distance
to the receiving water body, and the application of best management practices
(BMPs).
What Are the Effects of Sediment Runoff?
Water receiving sediment (eroded soil) may experience
aesthetic, recreational, biological, physical, and chemical degradation. Suspended sediment increases
turbidity which can reduce light shining
through the water. This affects aquatic plant growth and ultimately
reduces the amount of oxygen available in the aquatic ecosystem. Chemicals such
as pesticides and heavy metals attach to sediment and end up in the water
through erosion. This ultimately poisons aquatic life found in the water.
What Are Best Management Practices (BMPs)?
The most efficient and cost effective methods of controlling
Non-Point Source Pollution (NPS) from construction activities are careful planning and
implementation of best management practices (BMPs). These are described as any practices or
procedures designed to reduce pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides or other forms of
storm water runoff from construction sites.
BMPs suitable for construction sites include:
-
Vegetative filter strips to slow
runoff and filter pollutants.
-
Disposing and recycling solid waste.
-
Proper application of fertilizers and pesticides.
What Are The Benefits of BMPs?
If erosion and sediment control measures are carefully
planned and implemented, soil loss from construction sites can be greatly
minimized. Reducing soil loss has immediate economic and environmental benefits. A
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study indicates that proper erosion control
measures can reduce soil loss from construction sites by 90 to 96 percent, and
that the cost of erosion prevention is one-half to one-thirteenth of
cleaning up sediment after erosion has occurred.
Fundamentals of Urban Runoff Management:
Technical and Institutional Issues -
http://www.nalms.org/
Iowa
Stormwater Runoff Control - Interactive Manual
If you have any questions
/ comments
please contact:
Pat Sauer, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU)
800-810-4268
or psauer@iamu.org
