At Construction Sites

Silt fences can reduce sediment polllution from entering rivers

Many of you have seen large construction projects underway in your neighborhoods, and you may have noticed a lot of dirt coming off the site. This dirt that is tracked into roads or washed off the construction site ends up in our streams where it settles, smothering streambeds and destroying habitat, and muddies the water, making it difficult for fish to see their prey.

Existing law, under the water pollution permitting program of the Clean Water Act, requires that dirt be maintained on site to the extent possible and states that construction sites may not contribute to stream impairments. To comply with the law, each construction site must develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan that describes the techniques the contractor will use to prevent soil from leaving the site. Unfortunately, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) does not review these plans or monitor sites frequently to ensure that plans are followed. Therefore, it is up to local citizens and local governments to ensure that these laws are enforced.

If there are construction sites in your watershed, request a copy of the “Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan” from the developer. The general permit that requires the plans requires that these documents be made available to citizens.

Inspect the site regularly. When driving past the site, pull safely to the side of the road, and check to be sure you can answer YES to each of these questions:

1. Is the construction site exit covered with coarse gravel to prevent dirt from entering the street?
2. Are there silt fences (usually black fabric fences) installed around the site?
3. Do these silt fences appear to be capturing all of the dirt?
4. Are there ponds on the site to capture water settle dirt before water runs off the site?
5. If there are storm drains near the site, is there filter material around them to prevent sediment from entering?
6. Has some vegetation been left on the construction site?
7. Is bare soil covered with straw, mulch, or fabric?
8. If there is a stream nearby, is the water downstream of the site as clear as the water upstream?

If the site is not stabilizing soil and preventing runoff, you should report the site to the IEPA field office near you. The field offices and contact information can be found on the IEPA’s website. Also report problems to your local government officials. Most municipalities have ordinances requiring control of erosion and sediment.

Visit Monitoring Construction Sites or Stormwater Runofffor more information on how to reduce stormwater pollution in your community and at your home.

For more information on stormwater NPDES programs, visit US EPA’s stormwater website and/or Illinois EPA’s stormwater website.