Construction-Associated Solids Loads with a Temporary Sediment Control BMP

• Published in: Journal of construction engineering and management Vol. 132; no. 10; pp. 1122 - 1125
• Main Authors: Cleveland, Theodore G, Fashokun, Adebola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Exact sciences and technology; Miscellaneous; Road construction. Pavements. Maintenance; TECHNICAL NOTES; Transportation infrastructure; Managerial optimization; Sediment; Site analysis; Road construction; Pollution prevention; Construction industry; Result; Waste management; Water quality; Stormwater management; Best management practice; Water pollution; Storm water
• ISSN: 0733-9364; 1943-7862
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2006)132:10(1122)

A highway construction site was monitored to determine the effectiveness of a temporary sediment control (rock-filter dam) that was part of the pollution prevention plan that protected storm water from leaving the site. Selected water quality parameters were monitored along with solids-specific parameters. The results were compared in a before-during-after approach and an upstream-downstream approach using a two-sample t test for differences in the mean values during the different construction phases or locations. Construction activity caused a six-fold increase in total solids leaving the construction site during construction, as compared to preconstruction values. Construction activity had an effect on the distribution of particles in a suspension leaving the construction site. The solids control device, a rock-filter dam, had an effect on the particle-size distribution of suspended particles, but—in upstream-downstream analysis—did not produce a significant difference in solids leaving the construction site.