Over the years, it has become clear that there is a serious contributor to the problem of maintaining water quality. There is still a significant percentage of US Waters considered polluted and contaminated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires states to regulate stormwater runoff which has become apparent as one of our primary threats to our water quality today.
Florida experiences over sixty inches of rain per year. Recently the Clean Water Act (CWA) instigated a state assessment, and found Florida continues to see over 40% of waters assessed as dramatically impaired, and 30 % of these waterways’ impairment, is directly related to stormwater pollution.
So, what is stormwater? Rainfall that does not easily infiltrate the ground is called stormwater. Stormwater has the potential to introduce new pollutants into surface waters. Stormwater is a significant contributor to water pollution that often goes overlooked. When it rains, the water that runs off surfaces like roads, parking lots, and rooftops collects a variety of contaminants before flowing into nearby waterways. This stormwater runoff can contain harmful substances such as oil, grease, heavy metals, bacteria, and pesticides.
Stormwater runoff from construction sites can cause soil erosion and then allow sediment to invade local water bodies. Many industrial facilities and companies that have outside activities create unexpected and undetected pollutants. The common denominator is stormwater. When it rains, stormwater can easily pick up and carry contaminants to water drainage systems that eventually find their way to outfalls entering wetlands, streams, or lakes. EPA regulates construction activity and industrial facilities to reduce pollutant amounts associated with stormwater runoff.
The good news is that many improvements have been made since the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs were created for construction, industrial, and various other industry activities. However, still today, we have the necessity and need to ensure our water bodies continue to remain clean and free from pollutants.
KCI can assist in conducting weekly NPDES inspections and after .5 inch of rainfall by a qualified inspector. NPDES inspections are required on construction job sites in Florida every 7 days and 24 hours after a 0.5 inch of rainfall. These inspections must identify areas that need to be maintained or altered to ensure compliance with the permit. KCI can help. Contact us today on 888-346-7779.
