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Environmental Issues
In the United States over 40% of our water is unfit to drink, swim, or fish in. One of the major contributors to this is concrete washout water, on construction sites. This material is from washing out concrete trucks or concrete equipment on the site. Cement products such as concrete, mortar, grout, and stucco are known to have high PH levels that are harmful to our water system, wildlife, leaving soils contaminated.Minegar Environmental Systems, Inc. has created this system in conjunction with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and SWPPP guidelines that were put into place in 1993 to assist with these problems. We continue to find solutions to keep these contaminants from affecting our natural resources. Some of the guidelines in place include terms that are explained in more detail below. If you have more questions on how these products affect our water system, please visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.org.
Glossary Terms
- Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practice to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage. - Control Measure
Refers to any BMP, as used in this permit, or other method used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States. - Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a written document that describes the construction operator's activities to comply with the requirements in the construction general permit (CGP). The SWPPP is intended to facilitate a process whereby the operator evaluates potential pollutant sources at the site and selects and implements appropriate measures designed to prevent or control the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff. Guidance on developing a SWPPP and the implementation of appropriate best management practices (BMPs) is available at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm.