Stormwater and the construction industry

Stormwater runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality. As stormwater flows over a construction site, it picks up pollutants like sediment, debris, and chemicals. Polluted stormwater runoff can harm or kill fish and other wildlife. Sedimentation can destroy aquatic habitat and high volumes of runoff can cause stream bank erosion.

The traditional approach of stormwater management  has been to get stormwater off-site as quickly as possible through the installation of drainage systems that steer excess water to the nearest ditch, stream, river, wetland or lake, which simply transfers drainage problems from one location to another.  Decades of dealing with stormwater runoff in this manner has had major impact on water resources throughout the State of Florida.  Water quality degradation and an increase in downstream flooding are then inevitable results of the traditional approach to handling stormwater. 

New approaches to stormwater management will:

• Reduce the volume of runoff from land development projects, alleviating the threat of flooding associated with such projects, and

• Prevent degradation of water quality in waterbodies receiving stormwater runoff.

Improving water quality and controlling flooding are long range goals for the City of Palm Bay, better management of stormwater runoff is a major way of achieving this goal.

We have education and training opportunities available for you!  Contact Kaylene Wheeler via e-mail or at 321-953-8996 to schedule yours today!

Additional information and important links:

Stormwater and the Construction Industry Brochure

Environmental Protection Agency & Florida Department of Environmental Protection NPDES Construction Forms:

FDEP Construction Activity Pamphlet

Generic Permit

Notice of Intent (NOI)

Notice of Termination (NOT)

EPA Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans for Construction Activities

FDEP SWPPP Template

State of Florida Erosion and Sedimentation Control Designer and Reviewer Manual

Helpful links:

DEP Geographic Information Systems

Mapping to Determine Receiving Waters

U.S. Geological Survey

 

 

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