StormwaterONE.com is operated by Stormwater ONE, L.L.C.   Stormwater ONE is a private occupational trade schoolfor stormwater management.  Our school is located in Meriden, Connecticut, which is roughly halfway between New York City and Boston (EPA Region 1).

Our school has been in operation since 2007 and to date we have trained and credentialed over ten thousand construction professionals on the subject of stormwater management through our Internet-based learning system, which is referred to as the eCampus.

As the leader in computer-based stormwater management training and credentialing, our school's mission is to provide our students with the most comprehensive and up to date training of individual stormwater permits.

Our certificate programs provide professionals with the skills and qualifications required to maintain construction sites in accordance with section 402 of the Clean Water Act.  Section 402 of the Clean Water Act outlines the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program and requires all construction sites disturbing one (1) acre or more of land to obtain permit coverage to discharge stormwater and other wastewater from construction sites.

Although our programs prepare individuals to effectively maintain construction sites in compliance with the NPDES permitting program, we cannot guarantee placement in the field of stormwater management.

Individuals who complete our Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater (QCIS) certificate program are able to:

• Identify the components and framework of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program.
• Describe the proper installation and maintenance of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs).
• Identify the steps necessary to inspect a construction sites and determine possible causes of BMP ineffectiveness and how to correct them.
• Explain how to complete an inspection report and document corrective actions.
• Summarize the communication process necessary for teamwork between owner, operators, contractors, and stormwater pollution prevention plan designer so the site stays in compliance throughout the construction project.

Individuals who complete the Qualified Preparer of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (QPSWPPP) will be able to perform all duties associated with the QCIS certificate as well as:

• Understand the documentation requirements associated with maintaining the SWPPP through all phases of construction activity.
• Understand the importance of providing ongoing assistance and leadership to all trades associated with construction activities ranging from laborers to Professional Engineers.
• Prepare a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for construction activities. 

What Is Stormwater Management?

When soil disturbance and vegetation removal occurs during construction projects, there is a drastic increase in water and wind erosion. Consequently, when rain events take place, water inevitably flows through those unprotected, eroded soil surfaces and have the potential to transport sediment into U.S. waterways. This sediment-laden water is referred to as, “stormwater.” As that “stormwater” flows over construction and industrial sites, it can  carry other pollutants ranging from pesticides, chemicals and asphalt, to petroleum, and other debris collected from the soil surface and deposit those materials into water sources that serve as drinking water, aquatic habitats, and even public beaches and swimming areas. Urban stormwater discharged from storm sewers, often referred to as “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” (MS4s), has been found to be a leading source of water quality impairment. The stormwater flow picks up and transports these pollutants and then discharges contaminated water into U.S. waterways through MS4s.

The Clean Water Act and other relevant mandates require that all federal and state regulated construction sites, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) communities and industrial sites be covered under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to have the ability to legally discharge stormwater into waters of the United States of America. Most, if not all, of the mandatory stormwater permits require that the implementation of erosion and sediment control (ESC) Best Management Practices (BMPs) are applied to curtail and minimize pollutant discharges entering surface waters, MS4s and other bodies of water such as lakes, streams, rivers and oceans.

Any construction project site, industrial facility or MS4 covered under a NPDES stormwater permit is subject to compliance inspections either from a federal organization (EPA), state entity and/or a third party inspection service. These stormwater compliance inspections consist of an on-site examination for:

• Proper National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage.
• Prepared and amended a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
• Inadequate Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs).
• Proper installation, maintenance and replacement of erosion and sediment control devices and pollution prevention Best Management Practices (BMPs).
• Proper documentation (Notice of Intent (NOI), permit waivers, consultation letters, etc).
• Updated and amended reports (inspection reports, corrective action forms, spill reports, etc).

Failure to meet the required compliance standards can and typically result in fines.  From 2008 to 2010 there has been over $20,000,000 in Clean Water Act Violations and stormwater non-compliance alone. Table 1.0 shows the civil penalties assessed from 2008 to 2010 for stormwater non-compliance: