Locations – Texas

Everything you need to know about your SWPPP requirements for Construction in Texas… 

What is a SWPPP?  

A SWPPP is a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

Why do I have to have one?  

An SWPPP is required per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements which are complied with by adherence to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Construction General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities  The TXR150000

What happens if I don’t do my SWPPP and just let it ride?  

The State of Texas, and more specifically, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires all construction activity disturbing equal to or greater than one acre of land to adhere to the TXR150000 Construction Stormwater Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity.  

The TCEQ can enforce administrative, civil, and even criminal penalties as applicable should the permittee be found in violation of the TXR150000 Construction General Permit.  In other words… they can shut you down, fine you, and generally make completing your project much more uncomfortable than if you were to be in full compliance with all of the rules and regulations of the Construction Stormwater General Permit.  (This is enforceable per the TWC Code Chapter 7).  

In contrast, if you were to hire and expert Stormwater Team (Pro SWPPP) to handle any and all of your Stormwater Permitting requirements you would be clear from any penalties administrative, civil, and criminal because you would be in full compliance. 

Ok, but can’t I just do it myself?  

Sure, if you’re an avid do it yourselfer and looking to pinch a few pennies you can certainly handle this yourself.  Just simply read over and become an expert on all of the TXR150000 Construction General Permit’s eighty plus rivetingly entertaining pages of requirements and then put together your one hundred plus page comprehensive stormwater pollution prevention plan all the while ensuring you are also not overlooking any local city or county specifics that may be required and you’re off an running.  Additionally, should you overlook anything and/or forget something in the permit you only have yourself to blame, and you’re still just a liable as before if you had nothing in terms of SWPPP previously prepared for you job.  Or, you could hire an expert that has high level systems and processes in place for every time of construction type of requirement, and can ensure your full compliance with all Federal, State, and Local requirements for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities.  

The Benefits of Plausible Deniability

Should you encounter any hostilities from friendly neighbors or over zealous local soccer Mom’s that are highly concerned with the environment and your site gets reported to the TCEQ you have nothing to worry about.  Since you were super smart and hired and expert from Pro SWPPP to handle all of your SWPPP requirements for your project you can calmly and cooly point your finger at your SWPPP Expert to resolve whatever situation has been created by said over zealous soccer Mom.   Pro SWPPP guarantees full compliance throughout the duration of the project and will intervene on your behalf should any Federal, State, or Local authority visit your site and demand proof of compliance with the Construction General Permit’s requirements for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity.  

Peace of Mind

Sleep easy and focus on what you do best.  Build your Apartment Complex, or Storage Business, or Elevated Storage Tank, or Retail & Commercial development, or subdivision, or installed water main, or whatever it is you do best, and let Pro SWPP handle your SWPPP requirements.  That way you know you’ll be in full compliance with all of the Texas Commission of Environmental Qualities requirements for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity and you can focus on your build out for your project.  

My project is less than an acre?  Do I still need an SWPPP?  

If you have a project that is disturbing less than one acre of land disturbance, then you should be in the clear from all SWPPP requirements.  However, you could still be liable for putting a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan together if the County or City considers your project ‘Part of a Larger Common Plan of Development’ which is simply their way of requiring you to adhere to the TXR150000 Construction General Permit no matter what.  

I have an Erosion Control Plan drawing in my Civil’s… Isn’t that my SWPPP?  

Contrary to popular belief and various assumptions, the Erosion Control Plan or sometimes called Best Management Practices plan or sometimes actually called the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan drawing included in your Civil packet that you are building off of received from the Engineers is not your actual Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.  A complete SWPPP will be a hard bound notebook with over a hundred pages of information about everything there is to know about your project including any Notice of Intent, Notice of Termination, Notice of Change, and Construction Site Notice that is required and certainly includes a Daily Activity Log, Employee Training Log, and an Inspections log.  A formal SWPPP is a dynamic, active, working document professionally designed to handle all potential disturbances on your site throughout the duration of your project.  

How am I going to install my Silt Fence and Inlet Protection?  

At Pro SWPPP we simply put everything together so that you can easily and effortlessly handle any and all Stormwater requirements for your construction site in Texas.  Some SWPPP’s may and likely will include installation guidelines for Silt Fence, Inlet Protection, and a Stabilized Construction Entrance.  We typically recommend you handle this installation yourself and/or hire a local third part to handle this installation per the drawings included in the SWPPP.  Anyone can install Silt Fence and Inlet Protection it is a very simple and rudimentary process so anyone familiar with any type of construction would be able to do same very easily.  We also have wholesale erosion control providers that we can point you toward should you want to acquire the materials yourself and install the SWPPP BMP’s yourself.  

Can I at least do my own SWPPP Inspections?  

Absolutely, Pro SWPPP will setup your Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan so you can handle all of your own requirements.  We include a Letter of Delegation where you will be able to delegate the Authority to perform weekly SWPPP Site Inspections to your Site Foreman.  We include an Inspection Form in your SWPPP, or you can opt-in for our Online Inspections Portal and your Site Foreman can do them on his mobile device and all data is stored in the cloud.  

Overall, should you need a Construction SWPPP or an Industrial SWPPP just click the Get My SWPPP button and Pro SWPPP will take care of any and all of your requirements with a five star service and reliability that you can count on.