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Saturday, November 21, 2009

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Construction Activities & Stormwater Pollution

Photo of 2 construction workers using a washout area

Construction sites are one of the most common ways that stormwater runoff laden with sediment enters the City’s stormdrains and creek system. This is bad for the stormdrain system because sediment can clog the pipes and lead to flooding, and it’s bad for the fish in the creek because the sediment clogs fish gills and destroys fish spawning habitat.

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Requirements

If you have a construction project in the City of San José that is greater than one acre in size you will need to comply with the State National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction permit. Requirements include preparing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that outlines how your site will prevent polluted stormwater runoff, including sediment laden runoff, from entering the City’s stormdrain system and local creeks. You will also be required to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to starting construction and a Notice of Termination at the end of your project with the State Water Board.

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Stormwater Inspections & Enforcement

The City of San José regularly inspects a construction sites to ensure that the sites are doing their part to protect the stormdrains and creeks and are operating in compliance with the law. Most construction sites are inspected by a Building Inspector, Public Works Inspector and an Environmental Services Inspector. All three types of City inspectors are trained to ensure that the construction site is protecting the stormdrains and creeks from polluted runoff. If a site has difficulty complying with stormwater regulations, that site will be inspected by the City more frequently and will be subject to fines.

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Resources for Construction Site Managers

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Report Storm Drain Dumping

Photo of a no-dumping storm drain stencil

Call (408) 945-3000

Or use the online form to report illegal dumping to the storm drain.

NPDES Permit for Construction

General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activity

Codes & Fines

Administrative Fines for Violation of the San José Wastewater & Stormwater Discharge Regulations

Publications

Graphic of a construction worker cleaning up a spill

Blueprint for a Clean Bay (PDF, 373 KB)

California Stormwater Quality Associatoin (CASQA) logoCalifornia Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Construction Handbook

Sample SWPPP

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Last Modified Date: 2/26/2009

 
 

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