Best management practice for water pollution

Best Management Practices (BMP) is a term used in the United States to describe a type of water pollution control. Historically the term has referred to auxiliary pollution controls in the fields of industrial wastewater control and municipal sewage control, while in stormwater management (both urban and rural) and wetland management, BMPs may refer to a principal control or treatment technique as well.

Beginning in the twentieth century, designers of industrial and municipal sewage pollution controls typically utilized engineered systems (e.g. filters, clarifiers, biological reactors) to provide the central components of pollution control systems, and used the term "BMPs" to describe the supporting functions for these systems, such as operator training and equipment maintenance. Stormwater management, as a specialized area within the field of environmental engineering, emerged later in the 20th century, and practitioners have used the term BMP to describe both structural or engineered control devices and systems (e.g. retention ponds) to treat polluted stormwater, as well as operational or procedural practices (e.g. minimizing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides).

Clean Water Act References to "BMP"

Congress referred to BMP in several sections of the U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) but did not define the term.
*The 1977 CWA used the term in describing the areawide waste treatment planning program [Clean Water Act of 1977, Pub.L. 95-217, December 27, 1977. Sections 208 (b), (i) and (j), USC|33|1288.] and in procedures for controlling toxic pollutants associated with industrial discharges. [CWA sec. 304(e), USC|33|1314(e).] The "Section 404" program, which covers dredge and fill permits, refers to BMPs in one of the enforcement exemptions. [CWA sec. 404(f), USC|33|1344.]
*References to stormwater BMPs first appear in the 1987 amendment to the CWA in describing the Nonpoint Source Management Demonstration Program. [Water Quality Act of 1987, Pub.L. 100-4, February 4, 1987. CWA sec. 319(a),(b),(h),(l), & (m), USC|33|1329.]
*Another stormwater BMP reference was added in 2001 with the authorization for a Wet Weather Watershed Pilot Project program. [Wet Weather Water Quality Act of 2000, December 21, 2000. Added by the Miscellaneous Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat. 2763A–225), as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Pub.L. 106–554 (114 Stat. 2763). Amended CWA sec.121(a)(2), USC|33|1274.]

EPA Definitions

In implementing the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defined BMP in the federal wastewater permit regulations, initially to refer to auxiliary procedures for industrial wastewater controls. :...schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the United States, BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage. [ [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08aug20051500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/pdf/40cfr122.2.pdf "EPA Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System."] "Code of Federal Regulations," 40 CFR 122.2.]

Later the Agency added a reference to stormwater management BMPs.:...each NPDES permit shall include conditions meeting the following requirements when applicable... (k) Best management practices (BMPs) to control or abate the discharge of pollutants when: ... (2) Authorized under section 402(p) of the CWA for the control of storm water discharges... [ [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/08aug20051500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/julqtr/pdf/40cfr122.44.pdf "ibid.,"] 40 CFR 122.44.]

Industrial Wastewater BMPs

Industrial BMPs are considered an adjunct to engineered treatment systems. Typical BMPs include operator training, maintenance practices, and spill control procedures for treatment chemicals. There are also many BMPs available which are specific to particular industrial processes, for example:
*source reduction practices in metal finishing industries (e.g. substituting less toxic solvents or using water-based cleaners);
*in the chemical industry, capturing equipment washdown waters for recycle/reuse at various process stages;
*in the paper industry, using process control monitoring to optimize bleaching processes, and reduce the overall amount of bleach used. [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. [http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/owm0274.pdf "Guidance Manual for Developing Best Management Practices (BMP)."] Chapter 3. October 1993. Document No. EPA-833-B-93-004.]

Stormwater Management BMPs

Stormwater management BMPs are control measures taken to mitigate changes to both quantity and quality of runoff caused through changes to land use. Generally BMPs focus on increased impervious surfaces from development. BMPs are designed to reduce stormwater volume, peak flows, and/or nonpoint source pollution through evapotranspiration, infiltration, detention, and filtration or biological and chemical actions.

Stormwater BMPs can be classified as "structural" or "non-structural."There are a variety of BMPs available, depending on pollutant removal capabilities. A list of BMPs available can be found at the [http://www.stormwaterauthority.org/bmps StormwaterAuthority Guide to BMPs] .

See also

*Detention basin
*Hydrodynamic separator
*Industrial wastewater treatment
*Low Impact Development (LID)
*Nationwide Urban Runoff Program (NURP)
*Retention basin
*Stormwater
*Sustainable urban drainage systems
*Water pollution

References

External links

* [http://www.stormwaterauthority.org/bmps StormwaterAuthority Guide to BMPs]
* [http://cfpub1.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm EPA National Menu of Stormwater BMPs]
* [http://bmpdatabase.org International Stormwater BMP Database] – Performance Data on Urban Stormwater BMPs
* [http://www.cabmphandbooks.com California Stormwater BMP Handbooks] - California Stormwater Quality Association
* [http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/wmp/bmps.htm BMP Guide] - Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
* [http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/wc/Subjects/StormwaterManagement/default.htm Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP Manual]
* [http://www.villanova.edu/VUSP Villanova University Urban Stormwater Partnership]