Best management practices (BMPs) are environmental procedures and techniques designed to prevent pollution at construction sites. They help protect water sources, minimize fugitive dust, manage wastes, control erosion, and preserve vegetation and natural resources.
Stormwater BMPs are a set of methods that prevent pollutants from running off of construction sites into nearby waterways and sewer systems. They can also reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and enhance aesthetics.
Structural Stormwater BMPs employ physical structures, such as ponds, basins, and rain gardens to capture runoff and direct it to locations upstream. They can hold the water temporarily and release it gradually to keep it manageable.
Non-Structural Stormwater BMPs utilize management techniques to address pollutants in runoff, including sediment and other chemicals and natural materials. These techniques may be highly specific to the type of activity taking place on the site and are often used together with structural BMPs.
One of the greatest problems that South Carolina faces is sedimentation on our rivers and lakes. Millions of tons of sediment are deposited in the state’s surface waters each year, due to the eroding effect of the land on water runoff and other construction-related processes.
The use of various sediment control BMPs is a key part of the solution to this problem, but they are only effective if properly designed and implemented. They must also be regularly maintained, which is an ongoing process for any type of BMP.
