Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Practice Test

Which material management practice can effectively address both sediment and dust control?

1. Landscaping

2. Street cleaning

3. Grading

4. Installation of silt fences

The correct answer is: Street cleaning

The correct choice is street cleaning because it is a proactive material management practice that effectively reduces both sediment and dust. This process involves the regular removal of debris, sediment, and pollutants from paved surfaces, which not only minimizes sediment runoff into water bodies during rain events but also alleviates dust emissions that can occur from dry, loose material on the streets. Street cleaning is particularly significant in urban environments where surface runoff can carry pollutants into stormwater systems. By maintaining clean streets, the potential for sediment and pollutants to be washed away by stormwater is greatly diminished, thus contributing to overall water quality improvement. This method is effective for controlling both sediment, which can accumulate over time, and dust that may arise from vehicle activity or construction activities. Other practices mentioned, such as landscaping, grading, and the installation of silt fences, do play critical roles in erosion and sediment control, but they do not specifically address dust control in the same comprehensive manner as street cleaning does. Landscaping is more focused on vegetation and soil management, grading primarily addresses slope stabilization, and silt fences are aimed at controlling sediment in runoff but do not prevent dust formation. Therefore, street cleaning stands out as the most effective practice for simultaneously managing both sediment and dust issues.