Resources · SWPPP Preparation
How to Prepare a SWPPP
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan is the core document behind construction stormwater compliance. Here's a plain-language walkthrough of what typically goes into one, aligned with EPA's SWPPP guidance.
What a SWPPP Is For
A SWPPP identifies the pollutant sources on a construction site and describes the Best Management Practices (BMPs) a project will use to control them, along with the inspection and documentation practices that keep the plan current as the site changes. EPA publishes its own SWPPP development guidance, and the components below summarize the elements most SWPPPs include. This page is a general overview, not a template, and not a substitute for reading your specific permit.
Plan Components
What Goes Into a SWPPP
1. Site & Project Information
Basic identifying information: project name and location, owner and operator contacts, project description, total site and disturbed acreage, and construction start and completion dates. This section anchors the rest of the plan to a specific project.
2. Operators & Stormwater Team
Identifies who is responsible for SWPPP implementation, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and the individuals performing inspections and BMP maintenance, along with their roles and contact information.
3. Site Map Requirements
A site map showing property boundaries, existing and proposed structures, drainage patterns, BMP locations, receiving waters, and areas of soil disturbance. The map is typically updated as construction phases change site conditions.
4. Drainage Patterns
A description of how stormwater flows across the site before, during, and after construction , including existing drainage, proposed changes, and discharge points, used to identify where BMPs are needed.
5. Receiving Waters
Identification of the water bodies that ultimately receive site stormwater discharges, including any impaired waters or waters with special protections that may trigger additional permit conditions.
6. Pollutant Sources
An inventory of activities and materials on site that could contribute pollutants to stormwater , exposed soil, vehicle tracking, concrete work, fueling areas, chemical storage, and construction waste, among others.
7. Erosion and Sediment Controls
The specific BMPs selected to prevent soil erosion and capture sediment before it leaves the site , such as silt fence, sediment basins, and stabilized entrances. See Stormwater BMP Training for a deeper look at BMP categories.
8. Pollution Prevention Controls
Practices addressing non-sediment pollutants: good housekeeping, material storage, concrete washout, spill prevention and response, and proper waste disposal.
9. Inspection Schedules
How often the site must be inspected, typically on a routine schedule plus after qualifying rain events, and who is responsible for performing and documenting those inspections. See Construction Stormwater Inspection Training for more detail.
10. Corrective Actions
The process for identifying BMP deficiencies during inspections, documenting them, and tracking repairs or replacements to closure within the permit's required timeframe.
11. Documentation and Updates
The SWPPP is a living document. As site conditions, phasing, or personnel change, the plan and its site map must be updated and dated, with a record of what changed and when.
12. Final Stabilization
Criteria for when disturbed soil is considered permanently stabilized (e.g. vegetative cover established or permanent surfaces installed), which affects when certain BMPs can be removed and when permit coverage can be terminated.
13. Permit Termination
The process and documentation required to formally close out permit coverage once final stabilization is achieved and all permit obligations have been met.
A compliant SWPPP must reflect actual site conditions, project phasing, receiving waters, pollutant sources, BMPs, inspection schedules, corrective actions, and stabilization requirements , permittees remain responsible for meeting their specific permit's exact requirements.
Go Deeper
Learn to Prepare a SWPPP in Depth
This page is a general overview. SWPPP Preparer Training covers plan structure, site hazard assessment, BMP design criteria, monitoring, and documentation in depth for anyone responsible for writing or maintaining a SWPPP.
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