Enhanced Street Sweeping for Effective Stormwater Management
Street sweeping plays a significant role in removing phosphorus and pollutants from urban environments. By implementing enhanced street sweeping programs based on tree canopy cover and phenology, cities can achieve cost-effective pollution reduction and meet TMDL WLAs. This approach can be integrated into stormwater programs and credited under MS4 permits. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency emphasizes the importance of this practice in their Stormwater Manual, highlighting its potential impact on pollution control and environmental sustainability.
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Presentation Transcript
MPCA Webinar Street Sweeping & Urban Stormwater Intro from the perspective of MS4 cities Randy Neprash, PE
Important things you will hear in todays Webinar Street sweeping picks up and removes a significant amount of phosphorus the nutrient we chase in Minnesota We can measure it with a reasonable degree of accuracy and precision We can corelate that measurement with measuring protocols that cities can implement relatively easily This can serve as the basis for a crediting system under stormwater regulations MS4 cities can claim credit under their MS4 permits MS4 cities can track progress toward meeting TMDL WLAs This can be linked to an enhanced street sweeping program Enhanced street sweeping can be optimized based on tree canopy cover and phenology (when the trees drop seeds, flowers, and leaves) The cost-effectiveness is very impressive less than $100 per lb of P removed, at times All this makes street sweeping one of the most cost-effective and just plain effective BMPs we have If your city is going to increase its tree canopy cover, you should consider enhanced street sweeping
For your city or your state program Consider all this for your city Have your state recognize this work and create a crediting program Street sweeping can be a real part of your stormwater program Use SW utility funds and SRF funding to pay for street sweepers Get tree canopy cover data for your city Optimize your sweeping routes and timing Quantify the results and benefits from your sweeping Find all this information in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual
Work still to be done Street sweeping and trash Street sweeping and solids (dirt, particles, and the pollutants adsorbed to them Impact of enhanced street sweeping on other BMPs rain gardens, ponds, etc. Think of streets not as sources but as useful collectors of pollutants, where we can pick them up and remove them All the other leaves a significant source of P
Big THANK YOU to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Mike Trojan They have done great work on this and shown a real commitment to pollution reductions and MS4 cities Check out the Minnesota Stormwater Manual
