Why Inlet Protection Can’t be the First Line of Defense
Storm Drain Inlet Protection
According to just about every permit there is, storm drains must be protected. Most permits require a combination of sediment and erosion controls to prevent sediment and pollutants from reaching storm drains. The idea is that storm drain inlet protection is a secondary BMP designed to protect storm drains when other BMPs have failed. If you only rely on the inlet protection and it fails, you will be discharging pollutants into the storm drain.
Also, the goal is to keep sediment and pollutants as far from inlets as possible. If you are relying on the inlet protection as the first line of defense, they will become clogged with sediment and other pollutants. This will make them harder to clean and more likely to fail. Always remove sediment prior to entry to storm drains.
Additionally, other BMPs such as perimeter controls and track-out controls can either keep erosion from occurring or keep the sediment closer to its point of origin. This makes it easier to keep sediment and erosion from getting out of control. Protecting the storm drains as secondary protection is essential to ensure they remain free from sediment or pollution. Always remove sediment prior to entry to storm drains.