Free Learning Center
Free Stormwater and SWPPP Training
Learn how construction stormwater compliance actually works: NPDES and the Construction General Permit, what goes in a SWPPP, erosion and sediment controls, inspections, corrective actions and final stabilization. Every lesson ends with a short quiz. No sign-up, and nothing is saved.
- 12 free lessons
- 96 quiz questions
- About 3 hours total
- No sign-up · nothing saved
Mini-trainings
12 Free Stormwater and SWPPP Lessons
Start with lesson 1 or jump to the topic you need. Each lesson takes 10 to 20 minutes and ends with a graded quiz.
Stormwater Runoff 101: How Construction Sites Pollute Waterways
How rain becomes runoff, why sediment is the top pollutant, and the chain every control is built to break.
Lesson 2 · 13 minNPDES and the Clean Water Act: How Stormwater Permits Work
Section 402, who issues permits, general vs. individual permits, and the three stormwater programs.
Lesson 3 · 14 minConstruction Stormwater Permit Coverage: Who Needs It, NOIs, Waivers and NOTs
The 1-acre and common plan rule, operators, NOI timing, the low erosivity waiver and the NOT.
Lesson 4 · 15 minInside a SWPPP: The Required Elements, Section by Section
Operators, stormwater team, site map, controls, inspections, certification, availability and updates.
Lesson 5 · 14 minErosion Control BMPs: Keeping Soil in Place on Construction Sites
Phasing, vegetation, mulch, blankets, slope breaks, dust control and stabilization basics.
Lesson 6 · 16 minSediment Control BMPs: Perimeter Controls, Track-Out, Inlet Protection and Basins
Perimeter controls, the one-half rule, construction exits, track-out, inlet protection, stockpiles and basins.
Lesson 7 · 13 minPollution Prevention on Construction Sites: Washout, Fueling, Materials and Waste
Prohibited discharges, concrete washout, fueling, storage, spills, waste and fertilizer.
Lesson 8 · 13 minConstruction Dewatering: Pumping Water Off Site Without Polluting
Treating pumped water, filter bags, sheens, daily inspection, turbidity sampling and the 50 NTU benchmark.
Lesson 9 · 15 minSWPPP Site Inspections: How Often, What to Check and How to Document It
7-day or 14-day plus 0.25-inch schedules, sensitive waters, what to inspect and 24-hour reports.
Lesson 10 · 15 minCorrective Actions and Stabilization: The Deadlines That Drive Compliance
Maintenance vs. corrective action, next-day and 7-day fixes, the 24-hour log, and stabilization deadlines.
Lesson 11 · 13 minPost-Construction Stormwater Management: Detention, Retention, Infiltration and LID
Why development increases runoff, detention vs. retention, infiltration, LID practices and maintenance.
Lesson 12 · 13 minBeyond Construction: MS4 and Industrial Stormwater Permits
MS4 Phase I and II, the six minimum control measures, the MSGP, sectors, and no exposure.
Practice test
Stormwater and SWPPP Practice Test
Random 20-question tests from a 96-question bank, scored instantly.
Free guides
In-Depth Stormwater Guides
Silt fence, wattles, inlet protection, check dams, construction entrances, concrete washout, hydroseeding, blankets, SWPPPs, NPDES and ponds, explained.
Silt Fence: How to Install, Inspect and Maintain It So It Actually Works
What silt fence is, step-by-step installation, typical specs, where it fails, and the one-half cleanout rule.
Guide · 9 min readErosion Control Methods: 15 Practices Compared, and Which Works Best Where
15 erosion control practices compared by best use, plus how to pick the right one for the slope and season.
Guide · 8 min readErosion Control Blankets and Matting: Types, Selection and Installation
Blanket types and lifespans, TRMs, choosing by slope and flow, slope and channel installation, wildlife-friendly netting.
Guide · 7 min readWhat Is a SWPPP? Meaning, Who Needs One, and What's Inside
What SWPPP stands for, who needs one, what's inside, who prepares it and how it's used day to day.
Guide · 7 min readWhat Is NPDES? NPDES Permits Explained in Plain English
What NPDES stands for, how permits work, individual vs. general permits, and who issues them.
Guide · 7 min readDetention Pond vs. Retention Pond: Differences, Uses and Maintenance
Detention vs. retention ponds, infiltration and sediment basins, underground storage and catch basins.
Guide · 7 min readHydroseeding and Hydromulch for Erosion Control
What's in the slurry, hydromulch vs. bonded fiber matrix, when to use it, and getting it to establish.
Guide · 6 min readStraw Wattles and Fiber Rolls: Where to Use Them and How to Install Them
Where wattles work, slope spacing, trenching and staking, pavement use, and maintenance.
Guide · 6 min readConcrete Washout: Requirements, Setup Options and Maintenance
Why washout water is harmful, EPA CGP requirements, washout options, sizing, signage and disposal.
Guide · 6 min readStorm Drain Inlet Protection: Types, Installation and Maintenance
EPA CGP requirements, devices for grate and curb inlets, installation, flooding risk and maintenance.
Guide · 6 min readCheck Dams: Spacing, Design and Installation for Swales and Ditches
Materials, the spacing formula, center notch design, installation, maintenance and limits.
Guide · 6 min readStabilized Construction Entrance: Specs, Installation and Track-Out Control
EPA CGP track-out rules, typical exit specs, wheel washes and shaker plates, maintenance and cleanup.
Calculators, checklists & reference
Field Tools You Can Use Today
Free calculators and printable checklists that run in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
Do I Need a Construction Stormwater Permit or SWPPP? Quick Check
Enter acreage, location and role to see if a project likely needs permit coverage and a SWPPP.
CalculatorRational Method Calculator: Peak Stormwater Runoff (Q = CiA)
Weighted runoff coefficient and peak flow in cfs and gpm using Q = CiA.
CalculatorSediment Basin Sizing Calculator: EPA CGP Storage Requirements
Basin storage at 3,600 cf per acre or the 2-year, 24-hour runoff, with a rough footprint.
Printable checklistSWPPP Site Inspection Checklist for Construction Stormwater
Every area and control the CGP says to inspect, plus discharge observations and corrective actions.
Printable checklistPre-Construction Stormwater Checklist: Permits, SWPPP and Controls Before Grading
Coverage, NOI timing, SWPPP, team training, signage and the controls to install before grading.
Printable checklistFinal Stabilization and Notice of Termination Checklist
70% cover, removing controls and materials, before-and-after photos, and the 30-day NOT deadline.
ReferenceStormwater & SWPPP Glossary
65 plain-English definitions with links to the lessons that use them.
Free lessons vs. certificate courses
When Free Training Is Enough, and When It Isn't
| Free lessons (this page) | Certificate courses | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, no account | From $379.99 per seat |
| Best for | Learning the basics, refreshers, toolbox talks, checking your knowledge | Documented training for employer records |
| Quizzes | Yes, graded instantly in your browser | Yes, plus a final assessment |
| Certificate of completion | No | Yes, issued on completion |
| Progress saved | No, nothing is stored | Yes, in your training account |
| Languages | English & Spanish (español) | English & Spanish |
FAQ
Free Training FAQ
No. The free lessons are general education based on the Clean Water Act, EPA's NPDES regulations and the EPA Construction General Permit. They are not EPA-approved, EPA-endorsed or NPDES certification, and they are not California QSP/QSD or any other state credential.
No. The free lessons and practice test do not issue a certificate and do not record your results. If you need documented training, our paid QSP Practitioner and SWPPP Preparer courses issue a certificate of completion.
No. Quizzes are graded in your browser. Nothing you answer is stored or sent, and refreshing the page clears it.
Site supervisors, superintendents, foremen, stormwater inspectors, SWPPP preparers, engineers, developers and municipal staff who want a clear refresher on construction stormwater requirements.
The lessons use the EPA Construction General Permit as the baseline because most state permits share its structure. Your state, tribal or local permit controls, and some states, such as California, add their own requirements and credentials.
Each lesson takes 10 to 20 minutes, and the full set of 12 takes about three hours. You can take the lessons in any order.
Yes. All 12 lessons with their quizzes, the practice test and the guides are also available in Spanish at Capacitación gratuita en español. The calculators, checklists and glossary are in English only. The paid certificate courses are offered in English and Spanish.
Need Documented Stormwater Training?
QSP Practitioner and SWPPP Preparer courses aligned with the Clean Water Act, NPDES and the Construction General Permit. Certificate of completion. English & Spanish.