By Johnathan Clayton—Regional Manager // 2023-04-06
For those who have lived in Florida or visited during the summer months, the daily afternoon rain showers become part of everyday life. According to the National Weather Service, in Florida, the average of 2 inches of rain a month jumps to 7-8 inches a month during late May through October. In the construction world, the rainy season brings on a few more issues that will have to be addressed on a weekly basis. In preparation for the rain season that is quickly approaching, construction managers and site supervisors should be cognizant of the sediment and erosion controls that are installed on site. Managers should understand the use, design and purpose of all erosion controls that are being utilized on the construction site.
Interior erosion and sediment controls, such as inlet protection and temporary stabilization measures, provide control over sediment laden water from moving around the site and entering the stormwater system. It is important that these controls are designed and implemented with sound engineering practices. Inlet protection should be effective at both allowing stormwater to flow and filtering sediment before the stormwater enters the stormwater system. Disturbed areas of the construction site should be either temporarily or permanently stabilized if there is no planned construction activity within a maximum of 14 days of the work stopping. Stabilization helps retain the soil at its intended location.
Perimeter erosion controls, such as silt fence and trackout control devices, provide a last resort to retain sediment and other pollutants on site. Construction managers should ensure that perimeter controls are installed appropriately and in the right locations. If silt fence is being utilized as a perimeter control, it should be trenched with at least six inches of the fabric compacted in the soil. The silt fence fabric should be stretched tight with no sagging or gaps in the fabric. Trackout control devices should be installed at any ingress/egress locations on the site. Rumble strips or gravel pad entrances provide an area for vehicle to leave the site without tracking sediment by vibrating the tires and freeing them of any sediment. During rain season, construction sites can become muddy which will stick to vehicles tires. Having a trackout control device that is maintained and operational is a must to keep sediment on site.
References
https://www.wfla.com/weather/weather-stories/rainy-season-is-just-around-the-corner-but-cant-come-soon-enough/
https://www.weather.gov/tbw/RainySeason
Interior erosion and sediment controls, such as inlet protection and temporary stabilization measures, provide control over sediment laden water from moving around the site and entering the stormwater system. It is important that these controls are designed and implemented with sound engineering practices. Inlet protection should be effective at both allowing stormwater to flow and filtering sediment before the stormwater enters the stormwater system. Disturbed areas of the construction site should be either temporarily or permanently stabilized if there is no planned construction activity within a maximum of 14 days of the work stopping. Stabilization helps retain the soil at its intended location.
Perimeter erosion controls, such as silt fence and trackout control devices, provide a last resort to retain sediment and other pollutants on site. Construction managers should ensure that perimeter controls are installed appropriately and in the right locations. If silt fence is being utilized as a perimeter control, it should be trenched with at least six inches of the fabric compacted in the soil. The silt fence fabric should be stretched tight with no sagging or gaps in the fabric. Trackout control devices should be installed at any ingress/egress locations on the site. Rumble strips or gravel pad entrances provide an area for vehicle to leave the site without tracking sediment by vibrating the tires and freeing them of any sediment. During rain season, construction sites can become muddy which will stick to vehicles tires. Having a trackout control device that is maintained and operational is a must to keep sediment on site.
References
https://www.wfla.com/weather/weather-stories/rainy-season-is-just-around-the-corner-but-cant-come-soon-enough/
https://www.weather.gov/tbw/RainySeason