Stormwater Information for Builders and Developers

Construction Site Runoff Control

Construction site runoff control is essential to maintaining clean water. Construction disturbs soil at building sites and can generate large amounts of sediment. Sediment — if allowed to run into our lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands — diminishes recreational use, reduces storage capacity and floodwater retention, degrades aquatic life, and depreciates property values. It is more affordable to prevent these problems than to correct them after they have occurred. For more about construction-related water pollution and sediment, see:

Construction Site Runoff Control: Local programs and ordinances to reduce sedimentation from construction sites.

Stop The Mudness!: Problems and solutions related to sedimentation from both urban and rural areas.

Concrete Washout

In addition to sediment, concrete washout is a potential pollutant on construction sites. This video, produced by the Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association and several other partners, shows the proper way to handle concrete washout.

New: Compliance 101

On March 11 and 12, 2009, the Elkhart County SWCD held a two-hour workshop (repeated three times) called Compliance 101. The workshop was intended to help developers, builders, and others in the construction industry comply with state and federal stormwater quality rules. If you missed this workshop, the presentations have been archived here.

Self-Inspection Forms

Rule 5 requires site owners to monitor their own sites weekly and after every half-inch rain event, to ensure that BMPs are installed and maintained correctly and in a timely manner. We have developed the following forms as a way to provide guidance to meet this requirement:

Self-Inspection Report Cover Sheet (PDF): This should be used by site owners or their representatives as a cover sheet for their self-inspection reports. The questions listed are examples of the kind of things the inspector should look for.

Self-Inspection Report Form (PDF): This form should be used for regular site inspections, to occur weekly and after every half-inch rain event. Spaces are available to fill in the required information based on the site conditions and BMPs for each particular site.

Sample Self-Inspection Report (PDF): This is a sample form filled out for a fictitious site.

Download these forms in Word format: Links are in the text on the bottom half of the page.

If you have questions or would like technical assistance on using these forms or meeting the self-monitoring requirements, please contact Jason or Eric at (574) 533-3630 ext. 3.

About Rule 5 and Rule 13

The state law regulating Construction Site Runoff Control is known as Rule 5. A related rule, Rule 13, requires small municipalities and counties with urbanized areas to put programs in place to improve stormwater quality. These two rules are part of the state pollution prevention rules.

In order to comply with Rule 5 requirements, site owners, builders and developers must file a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Here is a brief overview of Rule 5 Requirements and Useful Forms for help with submittal of the SWPPP.

Post-Construction Runoff Control

For the past two decades, the rate of land development across the country has been more than two times greater than the rate of population growth. If unchecked, the increased impervious surface associated with this development — roads, parking lots, and rooftops — will increase stormwater volume and degrade water quality, which can harm lakes, rivers, streams, and coastal areas.

The best way to prevent stormwater impacts from new development is to use practices to treat, store, and infiltrate runoff onsite before it can affect water bodies downstream. Innovative site designs that reduce imperviousness and smaller-scale low impact development practices dispersed throughout a site are excellent ways to achieve the goals of reducing flows and improving water quality.

New development and redevelopment projects need to follow local requirements to protect water quality during post-construction stormwater management. This means using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent negative impacts from stormwater running off the site.

For information on specific post-construction practices, visit the EPA's Menu of BMPs.

For more about post-construction stormwater management, refer to this fact sheet (PDF) from the EPA.

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Further Reading

Compliance 101 Workshop
On March 11 and 12, 2009, the Elkhart County SWCD held a workshop on local, state, and federal stormwater ordinances that affect construction sites. Presentations from the workshop are linked to this page.
 

Rule 5 Requirements and Useful Forms
Details of the Building and Construction requirements, and links to required forms.
 

Construction Site Runoff Control
Local ordinances require submittal of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for any construction on sites that will disturb one or more acres of soil.
 

Rule 5
A brief description of the Indiana State Law governing Construction Site Stormwater Pollution Prevention.
 

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