Stormwater Management For Industrial Facilities

Good housekeeping can go a long way. This is essentially the basic concept of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s NR 216 storm water permit program; to prevent storm water from becoming polluted by outdoor activities rather than treating it at the end-of-the-pipe.

Industrial storm water permits require facilities to develop Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) intended to prevent contaminants from entering storm water and polluting waters. A key step in developing the SWPPP is assessing the potential pollutant sources at the facility (e.g., chemical storage locations, waste storage areas, shipping and receiving, etc.). Once the potential sources have been identified, best management practices must be selected to minimize the potential for storm water contamination. Examples of best management practices include: good housekeeping and preventive maintenance, covering storage areas, and employee training.

Permitted facilities must also conduct the following inspections:

• Annual facility site compliance inspections
• Quarterly visual inspections of storm water discharge quality
• Semi-annual non-storm water discharge evaluations

Sigma can assist with your storm water management program in any capacity: from developing the program and preparing the SWPPP to conducting inspections and providing training.