Enacted in 1972, the Clean Water Act was established to regulate water pollutant discharges and for setting quality standards of water bodies. Originally established in1948, designated as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) was the first entity to address clean water in the U.S. covering limited areas of federal lands and later expanded into the CWA.

CWA has lent to rooting the EPA in administrating and implementing national Stormwater pollution control programs, industry standards, and regulations. Recognition of clean water and its vital importance has instilled a sustainable environmental movement throughout the U.S. encouraging participation from many to help keep our environment healthy!

A regulatory United States government agency working to ensure national efforts are set forth to reduce, manage, improve, and protect human health and environmental risks. Stewardship results are reached by developing national standards and regulations from environmental laws passed by U.S. Congress.

EPA also enforces regulations and works with the public to provide awareness, guidance, and inform in educating about environmental requirements, programs, grants, partnerships, and scientific research.

OSHA is dedicated to ensuring safety and healthy workplace conditions by enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. By April 1971, OSHA officially became a Government Administration issuing workplace safety and health standards.

Their continued awareness efforts evolved into educational safety training programs, workplace safe equipment and testing, worker rights and safe protections, and uniting employer partnerships for participation in contributing towards safe, healthy working environments by preventing hazards and promoting safety.

The Administration provides support and compliance assistance, inspections, enforcement, education and safety protocols covering private, state and local government workplaces. Connect with OSHA locally by visiting their Location Map. OSHA's steadfast goal is "Protecting America's Workforce".

Stormwater Flooding can be disastrous and preparedness is vital for safety and saving life. Mitigating adverse flood hazard risks occurring from weather, construction developments, or other natural and un-natural related sources are events demanding response for safety. View the FEMA flood hazard guide to help inform and prepare for flooding disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, a Nationally recognized government program that supports citizens and first responders in all aspects of disasters by emergency responding, providing protection, and recovery efforts toward mitigating hazards along with available recovery resources and monetary relief.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program was created in 1972 by CWA and implemented further by the EPA in addressing the Water Quality Act for regulating earthwork construction and related activities. Entities creating stormwater runoff at industrial sites and local municipalities require permits for employing separate water discharge systems known as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

Two phases of NPDES were introduced and implemented from 1990-1999 to address and refine the MS4s for compliance with NPDES permitting. There are 2 types of basic NPDES permits, the Individual Facility and the location specific Grouped Facilities.

Permits approved act as operating licenses to enable facilities allowance to discharge specified pollutant amounts into receiving waters meeting certain conditions. Additionally, oil discharge sites require Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) planning. NPDES have control limits set as technology-based limits and/or water quality-based to fulfill permit requirements.

Many state and federal entities are authorized to issue permits, currently 47 states and 1 territory are allowed to carry out the NPDES program.

This state designated public health environmental agency is driven and dedicated to protecting natural resources from pollution by providing clean air and water through sustainable development and environmental management.

TCEQ provides public resources such as permits, licenses, regulations enforcement, map and data info, forms, publications, and much more. This resourceful website provides everything Texas Environmental!

This private stormwater management trade school is an Accredited Training & Certification online based learning eCampus in operation since 2007.

StormwaterONE offers programs throughout the U.S. to industry professionals for comprehensive training in accordance with the Clean Water Act section 402 providing necessary qualifications in addressing NPDES for maintenance of construction sites.

Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater (QCIS) and the Qualified Preparer of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (QPswppp) are important educational certifications for conducting stormwater compliance management for stormwater discharge and other wastewater relating to construction projects.

Castillo Builders Environmental (CBE) is an accredited compliance entity with StormwaterOne of Texas State.

Castillo Builders Environmental has the required certifications in helping projects be successful in meeting the goals for disadvantaged (DBE) & (ACDBE), minority (MBE), small business (SBE) and underutilized business (HUB) through our acquired certifications within the State of Texas. We are committed to high performance standards, program compliances, partnerships, and successful project outcomes.

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) - This outreach program was enacted in 1983 and is provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Its purpose is to provide DOT funds to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses a fair opportunity to procure federal funded transportation contracts. In 1987, DOT authorized the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program to be joined into the DBE program. Certification for these programs are attained through affiliated State unified certification programs such as the Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP). Awarded contracts to selected contractors must conform with required standards and goals set forth by DBE for participation.

• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is a recognized minority business development organization who provides MBE certification to qualified minority business owners who manage and control the daily operations of a for-profit business.
  Along with the NMSDC, the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (SMSDC) also provides certification to MBEs. Both entities must meet compliance requirements pertaining to the MBE Procurement Program Ordinances and assure goals for MBEs are set forth.

• Small Business Enterprise (SBE) - This program allows opportunity for a small business to do state or local funded construction and maintenance projects and must be a DBE certified business to acquire the SBE certification.

• Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) - This program allows equal opportunity for underutilized minority owned businesses who are majority owned of at least 51% to participate in their local statewide HUB program as a certified vendor in procuring government funded contracts and utilizing its available resources to aid with securing contract projects.

Stormwater from precipitation has consequential effects resulting in the practice of stormwater erosion control and related maintenance measures. Water accumulation, surface runoffs, and wind affect soil erosion with need to employ preventive methods to deter water pollution, soil and habitat loss along with associated losses.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, known as SWPPP or SW3P, are federal regulated compliance plans by EPA and CWA for implementing stormwater control measures addressing sediment and soil erosion and are required in order to commence construction site builds. SWPPP's are intended to mitigate stormwater runoff to deter pollution damage to existing waterways.

BMPs is a management practice that continually addresses control measures involved in preventing or reducing stormwater runoff and its spreading of pollutants into waterways and systems.

Locale ordinances require the upkeep and implementation of BMPs for different construction needs addressing sound stormwater practices while meeting the minimum mandatory requirements considered by the EPA. Ideally, holistic and proactive planning practices are effective avoidance measures in dealing with BMPs.

ESC environmental inspections are EPA associated compliance inspections for erosion and sediment controls for ensuring, monitoring, maintaining, and implementing controls to be effective.

Inspection reports aid in allowing construction permits, protecting health and safety, evaluating current measures, inspecting recent damages, and address planning and development solutions to implement resulting in SWPPP control measures.

Finalized inspection reports are shared with designated permit authorities to perform construction site audit reviews to assess compliance and corrective actions. Credentialed Inspectors are required to ensure quality inspections without oversight.

There are 3 categories of Inspections that apply to ESCs.

• Routine Inspections are done as upkeep to regular scheduled maintenance and also to check, correct, and prepare construct sites pre-building prior to rain events.

• Before Rain Events Inspections are action specific to anticipated pre-rain preparedness to minimize risks, damages, and ESC operating failures.

• After Rain Events Inspections are action specific to mitigate and prepare sites for inevitable future rain events ensuring against health and safety hazards.

The first CGPs for stormwater construction sites were put in place by the EPA in 2003. Permit requirements ensure compliance for stormwater discharge in order to implement erosion and sediment control protection needed during the construction phase. Permits work in conjunction with Inspections to verify compliance before carrying out any planned preventative measure practices.

Environmental friendly practices are of growing importance in sustaining environmental health. Incorporating green infrastructure into communities, for designing, building, implementing, and managing stormwater controls lends to healthy communities and being aesthetically pleasing. See chart link below.

Stormwater runoff creates many issues affecting our waterways, sewer systems, and water supply. Green Infrastructure is a preventive solution to help aid in stormwater damage control. Inducing control measures with use of Integrated Water Management (IWM) and Low Impact Development (LID) can greatly reduce environmental hazards and improve water drainage and flooding events.

Modern sustainable solutions for incorporating green infrastructure include re-routing, diverting, biofiltration, re-purposing, etc. of stormwaters. Benefit measures for improving water conditions can be done by implementing and capturing excess water through rain gardens, roof downspouting, rain barrels, planter boxes, tree planting, permeable pavements, rooftop greenery, bioswales channeling, retention ponds, etc.

Using green design and management measures is a big win for improving water quality along with preserving and protecting our environment! If you are considering "greening up" your community, see the Green Planning Chart to help guide planning and development considerations.

The National Stormwater Calculator provided by the EPA is a site planning tool for land development and landscaping to provide home, business, and related professionals helpful info during project planning stages for incorporating Green Infrastructure.

This insightful comprehensive report tool lends to info find across the U.S for locale specific calculation details providing knowledge such as land soil types, rainwater permeability rates and soil drainage, topography, precipitation and temperature evaporations, climate change projections and much more.

Visit the Stormwater Calculator and check out each side option Directions and the Resources section (both have more resources). Enjoy this handy desktop tool to help out with your next project!

Explore the new USGS National Water Dashboard interactive map to access real-time water data from over 13,000 water sources and groundwater stations nationwide. See how your locale is impacted and how you can use the data to help inform and guide your next stormwater project.

The U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific research for earth natural resources by developing methods and tools through monitoring, assessing, and mapping that impact our precious environmental resources.