5 Steps to Creating a Storm Water Prevention Plan for your Business

It's extremely important for businesses working in certain industries to create a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan or SWPPP for short. A SWPPP is created in order to identify any sources of pollution which may have an impact on the discharge of storm water from an organization's facilities.

A SWPPP is also used to create best management practices which can be used to carry out the specified plan. These best management practices can be used as guidelines for implementing the SWPPP which will help to facilitate the reduction of contaminants from entering the storm waters which are discharged from the facility.

Businesses in specific industries are required by the EPA to receive a NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit. This permit may be obtained by submitting a water discharge sample along with a Notice of Intent to a local division of the EPA. This sampling will then be used to analyze water discharge in order to make a determination.

Developing a Storm Water Prevention plan takes time and a great deal of planning. There are 5 important steps any company must take when developing their own SWPPP. Below you'll find an outline of the 5 steps necessary to develop and implement a SWPPP.

Step 1: Planning

This phase of the process is absolutely crucial. Without proper planning implementation will surely suffer. During this phase a team should be assembled to deal with the SWPPP. Environmental management plans can aid in developing a framework for your own individual SWPPP. You can use examples in these plans to aid in your own plan's development.

Step 2: Assessment

This phase is used to successfully identify any potential sources of pollution entering the storm water system. Mapping your facility to identify any possible pollutants will help you to discover any storm water management needs you may have. Along with a map you should create an inventory of all materials located in the facility. You should also create an inventory of any hazardous leaks or spills which have occurred recently. This will help you to identify any potential storm water management needs.

Step 3: Develop Best Management Practices

Your best management practices should identify ways you can prevent storm water pollution on a day to day basis. This includes things like proper housekeeping, maintenance, inspections, and spill prevention. This plan should also include details outlining proper employee training needed to follow the practices.

Step 4: Implement your Best Management Practices

This is where the rubber hits the road for your BMPs. Employee training will need to be developed in order to satisfy the needs of your BMPS and SWPPP. This training is crucial to limiting the amount of pollutants entering your storm water runoff. Companies such as World Textile and Bag offer unique products to assist in the implementation process.

Step 5: Evaluate your SWPPP

A SWPPP is more than a one-time development process. Regular evaluations will be necessary to ensure your SWPPP is being carried out to specification. Your SWPPP will also need to be reevaluated any time there are any major changes made to the facility. Evaluation should also include analysis of records created detailing spills, leaks, prevention and any necessary maintenance carried out in the facility.