I receive a lot of questions about sampling techniques and I would love to discuss something truly important.
People ask me if they should hire someone to take a sample for them. If you are on a budget and don’t mind standing in the rain for a bit then the answer is “No”. Stormwater sampling is tricky but it is not rocket science and you can get the best result when you know exactly where and how you sample. First get some basic training like contacting your lab and ask them about storm water sampling and sometime they might even come out and train you on the sampling. A few rules of sampling 1) Do not force a sample if there is no discharge.
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EZ BMPs!
There are a lot of fancy and expensive BMPs products out there to help reduce storm water pollutant discharge, but you should evaluate your situation before making a big purchase. The #1 way to control pollutants is source control which means controlling at where the pollutant came from, for example, metals foundry uses sand in their production process and the sand is stored outdoor and sign of sand track out are observed at the yard, therefore the most effective way is to change the process by storing the sand indoor or within a non-leaking covered container and do a weekly vacuuming at the yard, but sometimes changing the process is not that easy and requires time for the worker to adapt.
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Where am I?
OK. It rains so water flows to the drain and/ or to the street, but have you ever wondered where the storm water actually goes? There are many websites out there to show you where is your nearest channel, creek, and lakes. Here are a few examples of sites that are really helpful. The information you gather here can also help you fill out the question “Nearest Water Bodies?” on your Notice of Intent (NOI) and writing your SWPPP.
