Construction

Under the Ohio EPA Phase II Stormwater Permit, active construction sites that disturb 1 acre or more of land must be permitted. This NPDES permit requires the operator to develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that describes Best Management Practices (BMPs) and erosion controls that must be implemented on the construction site to minimize the discharge of pollutants. If erosion controls are not properly installed or maintained on a construction site, then excessive amounts of sediment and debris can be carried directly into the stormwater system and our rivers and lakes. Construction vehicles can leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids that can be picked up by stormwater and deposited into local water bodies.

Contact the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District (LCSWCD) with questions on local active construction sites. For more guidelines on how to protect stormwater on your construction site, refer to Ohio’s “Rainwater and Land Development Manual” or contact LCSWCD.