Stricter EPA Effluent Limitations Guidelines Call for New Solutions

Stormwater runoff is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States, and sediment runoff rates from construction sites are typically 10 to 100 times greater than those of undisturbed land. This article discusses what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is doing to help alleviate this problem and describes how new products can be used to meet the EPA requirements. The EPA has recently adopted new, stricter regulations for stormwater management and runoff from construction and development sites. The effluent limitations guidelines require that outfalls from construction and development sites be monitored for a numeric turbidity standard for precipitation events that are equal to or less than a two-year, 24-hour storm. The EPA guidelines require that the maximum daily average from each outfall not exceed 280 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units). Product advancements in stormwater management can help capture sediment runoff from construction sites to meet the EPA mandates. Geocells are three-dimensional geotextiles that can be filled with aggregate or mulch to produce a stable, self-supported erosion and sediment structure. Water flows through the structure while soil particles are retained, thereby reducing turbidity in stormwater runoff. A field test of one geocell product demonstrated it had a remarkable ability to survive a severe storm event without being washed away. A series of comparative small-scale flume tests showed that the geocell product filled with shredded wood mulch reduced turbidity significantly better than a standard silt fence and a 9-inch straw wattle. Field tests confirmed these findings.

• Record URL:
  http://www.cenews.com/magazine-article-cenews.com-september-2010-stricter_epa_effluent_limitations_guidelines_call_for_new_solutions-8034.html
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10519629
• Authors:
  • Whitaker, Brian H
  • Wolfe, Kevin
• Publication Date: 2010-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 36-37
• Serial:
  • CE News
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Zweig White Information Services
  • ISSN: 1051-9629
  • Serial URL: http://www.cenews.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction sites; Effluents; Field tests; Geotextiles; Laboratory tests; Product development; Regulations; Runoff; Turbidity; Water quality management
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; I15: Environment; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01322495
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 15 2010 8:52AM