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BMPs for Construction

By reviewing and incorporating the following Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommended for your construction site during standard operations and activities, you set a visible public example in helping to reduce and eliminate storm water runoff pollutants from contaminating San Antonio’s rivers, creeks and natural waterways. Your efforts also ensure that present and future generations of residents can continue to enjoy a healthy, thriving community with continuous opportunities for future development.

Storm Drain Inlet Protection

  • Utilize rocks or special synthetic materials to cover nearby storm drain inlets or which filter out trash and debris in order prevent sediment-laden water or runoff from entering the storm drains.

Site Access Control

  • Limit vehicular and worker access pathways to and from the construction site.
  • Establish clear and exclusive construction zone entrances and exits in order to minimize tracking of dirt, mud and loose sediment out onto the streets or nearby storm drains.
  • Establish and conduct a regular street sweeping schedule.

Construction Materials Storage

  • Protect construction material stockpiles from winds, rain and inclement weather by storing them under cover of roof, secure impermeable tarp or durable plastic sheeting.
  • Avoid storing materials near streets, storm drain inlets or naturally occurring waterways such as streams or creek channels.

Rainwater Retention/Detention Control

  • Construct makeshift retention structures or detention ponds at key areas around the construction site to help capture rainwater for slow channeling into the ground rather than as loose streams into the street and storm drains.

Grading, Trenching and Site Excavation

  • Prevent sediment from leaving or flowing away from the construction site through installation of silt fencing around the site where required.
  • Gravel bags or berms should be applied to protect storm drain inlets in proximity of the site.
  • Periodically vacuum or street sweep loose sediment from paved streets or sidewalks around your construction site.

Large Scale Excavation

  • In order to minimize exposed soil and risk of runoff infiltration following major clearing, grading or excavation activities at your construction site, consider temporary or permanent vegetation planting as a solution for erosion control once activities are completed.
  • Excavation and grading activities should be avoided during wet weather in order to minimize loose sediment and soil infiltration in rainfall runoff.
  • Construct and establish diversion dikes at your construction site to help channel runoff – these channels should direct runoff to grass or roughened pavement in order to reduce its velocity and spread.

Vehicle/Equipment Maintenance

  • Perform regular maintenance, inspection and repair of all construction site heavy equipment and vehicles off-site so as to avoid or resolve oil, fluid, or chemical ground spills or leaks which can pollute the runoff.
  • Wash out concrete mixers only at designated washing areas located at your construction site. 
  • Use gravel approaches where truck traffic is frequent in order reduce soil compaction and limit sediment tracking onto paved streets around the site.

Site Cleanup/Maintenance Control

  • Regularly clean construction site areas by removing and properly disposing of trash, debris and construction material wastes.
  • In the event of a chemical spill, use dry cleanup methods – a) applying absorbent materials such as cat litter, sand or rags for liquid spills, b) dry sweeping cement, mortar or fertilizer spills, and c) extracting contaminated soil from spills on dirt or other earth areas.
  • In the event of a hazardous chemical spill, immediately act to contain the spread of the spilled material and contact the San Antonio Fire Department for emergency hazmat response.

Soil Stabilization

  • Prevent erosion and sediment pollution in storm water runoff by implementing soil stabilization solutions at your construction site – these can include mulching, surface roughening, and temporary silt fencing.

Waste Disposal

  • Recycle or reuse eligible construction materials and products such as solvents, water-based paint, vehicle fluids, broken asphalt or concrete, wood and uprooted vegetation.
  • Hazardous waste should be properly disposed of at a hazardous waste drop-off and collection facility. 
  • Construction site dumpsters should remain covered with secured tarps, lids or durable plastic sheeting and should never be cleaned out by hosing or washing down with water. 
  • Manage trash and debris collection schedules at your construction site to ensure that dumpsters do not overflow and allow toppling debris or waste to pollute storm water runoff or enter a nearby storm drain.

About Remember the River

Remember the River is a community campaign focused on nonpoint source pollution prevention outreach and education. The campaign is led by the City of San Antonio.

All campaign education and outreach efforts are conducted in compliance with educational/outreach guidelines established under a TPDES Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharge permit regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Contact Us

Contact:
Darlene Dorsey 210.207.1011

Email Address:

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283-3966


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