Construction

Helpful Resources for Controlling Pollutants During Construction

Urban storm water runoff is a significant source of pollution to the nation's waters, including our creeks and the San Francisco Bay. In 1987 Congress began to address this problem by requiring municipal storm water programs to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. This, along with State requirements, has resulted in local requirements for the control of runoff from development projects.

New and Redevelopment Projects/Attachment 4 Requirements (New for 2008!)
Construction Brochures
Developing a SWPPP
Trainings and Videos

Construction Brochures Minimum Erosion Control Measures - A schematic of typical Erosion and Sediment Control Practices for Single Family Home construction.

Fresh Concrete and Mortar Application - Fresh concrete and mortar are considered pollutants in stormdrains, creeks and bays because they are toxic to fish and the aquatic environment. Learn proper procedures to prevent illegal discharges.

Pollution Prevention - Its Part of the Plan - A Flier on Best Management Practices for specific activities in the construction industry.

Prevención de la Contaminación - es Parte del Plan - Spanish Version - A Flier on Best Management Practices for specific activities in the construction industry.

Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual (revised 2002) $30.00 - This manual, developed by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFRWQCB), provides descriptions and schematic drawings of best management practices (BMPs) for construction site planning and management, erosion and sediment control, pollution prevention and sampling guidelines. The new General Construction Permit Phase II regulations, the State Board sampling and monitoring guidelines, and long-term BMP maintenance information are also included. This manual may be purchased through ABAG (Association of Bay area Governments).

Blueprint for a Clean Bay (revised 2004) - This useful pamphlet by the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association provides a summary of best management practices to prevent stormwater pollution from construction-related activities. Also offers information on requirements for discharges, general site maintenance, demolition waste management, and contaminated ponded stormwater.

Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Handbooks (revised 2004) - These handbooks have provided excellent guidance to the stormwater community since their publication by the Stormwater Quality Task Force (SWQTF) in 1993. The SWQTF is now known as the California Association of Stormwater Quality Agencies (CASQA) and has revised and updated the Handbooks to reflect current practices, standards, and knowledge gained about the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs), and has made the Handbooks more accessible.

Developing a SWPPP

Need help developing your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)? - The State Water Resources Control Board has some good guidance for preparing a SWPPP. For a comprehensive list of issues to consider during the development of a SWPPP, click here. For the State Water Resources Control Board's Construction General Permit, click here.

Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites - This guidance manual is provided by the U.S. EPA NPDES Program and is intended as a helpful reference for construction site operators who must prepare a SWPPP in order to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges. It describes the SWPPP development process and provides helpful guidance and tips for developing and implementing an effective SWPPP. In addition, the guide provides customizable SWPPP templates and a sample inspection report, in Microsoft Word format. This Guide may be used by construction site operators anywhere in the U.S. The SWPPP Template and Inspection form should be customized to meet the requirements in the applicable State Construction General Permit.

Work from a SWPPP Template provided by CalTrans

Guidelines for Construction Projects (revised 2003) $12.00 - This booklet, compiled by SFRWQCB, includes information pertaining to the statewide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Construction Activities, a guide to the State Water Resources Control Board, detailed instructions on preparing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and Notice of Intent (NOI) to comply with the SWPPP, 404 Permit and 401 Water Quality Certification requirements, and Waste Discharge Requirements. This manual may be purchased through ABAG.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Online Training- offered through Shasta College - The Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and Water Pollution Control Program (WPCP) Preparation Manual and project Standard Special Provisions require that the contractor's SWPPP preparer and Water Pollution Control Manager (WPCM) have a minimum of 24 hours of formal storm water management training. This online course is certified by CalTrans to meet that requirement. This fully online course is designed to be self paced and open entry / open exit. It is strongly advised that you obtain physical copies of the 2003 CalTrans Storm Water Quality Handbooks: SWPPP Preparation Manual, Construction BMP's Manual. These can be ordered directly from the Department of Transportation website.

Trainings and Videos

Video: "Hold on to Your Dirt" (English or Spanish) (revised 2002) $15.00 - This 20 minute video illustrates installation and maintenance of some of the most commonly used BMPs used for grading projects and for stabilizing disturbed land areas. Filmed locally, the video also includes footage of environmental impacts caused by uncontrolled erosion from construction projects. This video may be purchased through ABAG.

Video: "Keep it Clean" (English or Spanish) (revised 2002) $15.00 - This video shows the measures to use after mass grading and site stabilization. BMPs in the video are designed to prevent water pollution from construction-related activities (e.g.; painting, stucco, concrete washout facilities, saw-cutting). The video also discusses State sampling modifications. The English version is also available on CD. This item may be purchased through ABAG.

CD Training Kit: Simple Tools - Construction Site Planning and Management for Water Quality Protection $58.00 - This CD ROM is a complete training kit for Construction Site Planning and Management for Compliance with Phase I and Phase II NPDES requirements. The CD also contains electronic versions of the 1999 editions of the Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual and the Guidelines for Construction Projects, listed above. This item may be purchased through ABAG.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Online Training- offered through Shasta College - See Developing a SWPPP above.