Kitsap County Green Sweep Program
Presentation Abstract
Under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that governs municipal pollution prevention, jurisdictions are required to reduce pollutant loading from streets using an array of best management practices to the maximum extent practicable. Kitsap County operates and maintains numerous stormwater treatment facilities as part of this overall effort to reduce pollutant loading. However, engineered facilities are not 100% effective and the coverage of developed areas is limited based on available space and treatment technology. Utilizing high-efficiency (HE) street sweepers to remove pollutants from roads surfaces is one method to reduce pollution near its source and meet NPDES permit requirements. The Kitsap County Department of Public Works (DPW) Road Maintenance Division and Surface and Stormwater Management Program have coordinated in developing a street-sweeping program called Green Sweep, focused on pollutant removal and water-quality enhancement. Kitsap County DPW purchased three HE sweepers which use brooms like traditional sweepers for collecting larger debris, but also has high-pressure air to loosen very fine sediment from pavement surfaces and vacuum-assisted filter systems to collect this fine material and attached pollutants. The Green Sweep program uses a sweeping route and frequency that is based on factors related to pollutant loading potential: traffic levels and type of traffic, surrounding land use activity, and proximity to receiving waters. An integral part of the Green Sweep program is measuring the effectiveness. Kitsap County DPW tracks the tons of material removed, lane miles swept, and samples for pollutants including metals, oils, and hydrocarbons. In 2012 the Green Sweep program generated 509 tons of solids which included approximately 33 pounds of copper and 111 gallons of oil. With this data, and similar data for material removed from catch basins and ponds, we are able to quantify the road-generated pollution removed from County roadways and relate the program to a water quality benefit. The Green Sweep program is the first line of defense in protecting Kitsap streams, wetlands, lakes and Puget Sound.
Session Title
Session S-08B: Stormwater Quality, Impacts, Treatment Solutions
Conference Track
Stormwater
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Urban runoff--Management--Washington (State)--Kitsap County; Water quality management--Washington (State)--Kitsap County; Street cleaners--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Kitsap County
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Kitsap County Surface and Stormwater Management Program
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Kitsap County (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Kitsap County Green Sweep Program
Room 6C
Under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that governs municipal pollution prevention, jurisdictions are required to reduce pollutant loading from streets using an array of best management practices to the maximum extent practicable. Kitsap County operates and maintains numerous stormwater treatment facilities as part of this overall effort to reduce pollutant loading. However, engineered facilities are not 100% effective and the coverage of developed areas is limited based on available space and treatment technology. Utilizing high-efficiency (HE) street sweepers to remove pollutants from roads surfaces is one method to reduce pollution near its source and meet NPDES permit requirements. The Kitsap County Department of Public Works (DPW) Road Maintenance Division and Surface and Stormwater Management Program have coordinated in developing a street-sweeping program called Green Sweep, focused on pollutant removal and water-quality enhancement. Kitsap County DPW purchased three HE sweepers which use brooms like traditional sweepers for collecting larger debris, but also has high-pressure air to loosen very fine sediment from pavement surfaces and vacuum-assisted filter systems to collect this fine material and attached pollutants. The Green Sweep program uses a sweeping route and frequency that is based on factors related to pollutant loading potential: traffic levels and type of traffic, surrounding land use activity, and proximity to receiving waters. An integral part of the Green Sweep program is measuring the effectiveness. Kitsap County DPW tracks the tons of material removed, lane miles swept, and samples for pollutants including metals, oils, and hydrocarbons. In 2012 the Green Sweep program generated 509 tons of solids which included approximately 33 pounds of copper and 111 gallons of oil. With this data, and similar data for material removed from catch basins and ponds, we are able to quantify the road-generated pollution removed from County roadways and relate the program to a water quality benefit. The Green Sweep program is the first line of defense in protecting Kitsap streams, wetlands, lakes and Puget Sound.
