Introduction of Nonstructural BMPs

Nonstructural BMPs focus on prevention and removal of stormwater volumes and constituent loads at their source. There are no physical structures associated with nonstructural BMPs. Characteristics of nonstructural BMPs include:

• Limiting the amount of pollutants that have potential to be in stormwater runoff

• Reducing the need for the more expensive structural BMPs

• Improving overall BMP efficiency and helping to reduce maintenance requirement

• Implementing non-structural BMPs through education, management, planning, and infrastructure maintenance

Examples of common nonstructural BMPs for industries are:

• Materials management practices that prevent either rainfall or stormwater from collecting and transporting water pollutants

• Storm drain maintenance practices such as street sweeping and catch basin cleaning

• Equipment maintenance

• Spill prevention, control, and cleanup

• Eliminating non-stormwater discharges

• Employee training

• Recordkeeping

• Good housekeeping

Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)