The most effective BMP will protect the environment and your business

When you select the most effective Best Management Practice (BMP), you’re protecting your business, the environment, and your community from the harmful effects of stormwater runoff. Choosing the right BMP, or “treatment train” of BMPs, involves understanding what your community requirements may be for water quality and quantity. It also involves understanding the types of BMPs available to meet those requirements. We have the information to help you understand all of it.

BMPs Defined

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are techniques used to control stormwater runoff, sediment control, and soil stabilization, as well as management decisions to prevent or reduce nonpoint source pollution. The EPA defines a BMP as a "technique, measure or structural control that is used for a given set of conditions to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in the most cost-effective manner."

“Treatment train” refers to the application of a series of physical stormwater best management practices to achieve improved drainage water quality.

FACT: Structural best management practices seem to be most effective when they can be combined in a treatment train. However, BMPs will fail if improperly located within the treatment train or not properly maintained.

Guide to Maintenance of Stormwater
Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Find Maintenance Costs of BMPs  
Maintenance Guide to Planning
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The cost of improperly maintained Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be devastating to a business and community.  Improperly maintained BMPs not only decrease in efficiency of removing pollutants, they also create environmental hazards (such as flooding and contamination), placing an owner or property manager at risk for liability.  

Maintaining BMPs often falls in the hands of the owner, developer, or site occupant.  Local or state ordinances may dictate the responsibility of maintenance and inspections to a particular party to ensure proper monitoring is taking place. 

An effective maintenance program will extend the life
of stormwater controls and BMPs, avert expensive repair
costs and prevent adverse downstream impacts.

To protect your business and the environment, learn about the maintenance costs of BMPs and the questions you should ask before your install a BMP.

Steps to Create A Maintenance Plan

1 Identify location of all BMPs on your property
2 Create a maintenance plan & checklist 
3 Identify key parameters to measure
4 Determine a maintenance schedule and procedure
5 Train people to handle the maintenance and reporting

Once you set up the monitoring program, reviewing reports will assist in determining when a BMP needs maintenance.  This will assist you in developing a solid plan and budget for upcoming needs to keep your BMP(s) properly maintained.

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