Why You Need To Filter Stormwater Runoff From Your Industrial Site
Posted on: 27 October 2017
One important aspect of your industrial operation is handling water runoff from the property. Industrial runoff has many special concerns because of all the chemicals and contaminants picked up by the water. You'll need to have a stormwater treatment plan in place and obtain a permit to ensure you comply with local and federal laws. Here's why it's important to handle stormwater properly and why filtration is a good way to do it.
Why You Need A Stormwater Treatment Plan
Besides having a plan in order to comply with the law, the main purpose of managing stormwater is to protect the environment and local waterways. Under normal conditions on undeveloped land, water seeps through vegetation and into the soil slowly and is filtered before it drains into a lake or other body of water. All that changes around industrial sites where there are large plots of land covered in asphalt and buildings. Rather than draining into soil slowly, water drains off the surface into drains and rushes toward a river where it causes erosion and other problems.
One of the big concerns associated with industrial runoff is pollution. Depending on the nature of your operations, the water may pick up chemicals, organic pollutants, oil, gas, or even soil from bare tracts of land. If allowed to drain directly into a local river, the runoff will pollute the water, affect aquatic life, and have a negative impact on the local environment.
Stormwater Filtration Removes Pollution
One solution for this problem is to install a system that collects runoff from a storm to slow it down as it moves toward the river. Then, diverting the water through filters removes pollutants picked up from the industrial site. Filters may consist of charcoal or screens. Sediment is removed along with chemical and biological contaminants. The water can then be released into the environment safely. The key is to identify each type of pollutant produced by your operation to ensure the type of filter you have installed will remove all of them.
Once the water has been filtered, you might be able to reuse it in your operations to help control the cost of water and to keep the water on site rather than release it into the environment. Knowing how you will catch the water and store or drain it is important early in the process of planning because that will ensure the right system is installed and the proper stormwater filters are chosen.
You'll need to present your plan to authorities in order to obtain a permit. Your system will also undergo inspection on a regular basis to ensure it works as intended and the local water is protected. Even if your operation doesn't produce toxic chemicals, you'll be required to have a plan for dealing with stormwater to control erosion and sediment buildup from water draining from your site.
Just by having a large lot for employees and having industrial vehicles and equipment on the land, your property will produce pollution that can affect runoff. Also, rain will pick up contaminants from metal roofing, copper pipes, and other materials used in industrial buildings, so you'll be producing pollutants passively. That's why it is important to consider every type of metal, chemical, or other type of contaminant and develop a plan to filter it out of stormwater.
Share