Are sediment control BMPs a primary or secondary means of preventing storm water contamination?

Are sediment control BMPs a primary or secondary means of preventing storm water contamination?

• A. Primary
• B. Secondary
• C. Tertiary
• D. Quaternary

Answer: (B)

In stormwater management, primary controls focus on preventing pollutants from entering runoff in the first place by minimizing soil disturbance and stabilizing exposed areas. Sediment control BMPs, such as silt fences, perimeter controls, and sediment basins, function by treating the runoff that does leave the site—removing sediment before it reaches a waterbody. They intercept and settle or filter sediments that have already been generated on-site, rather than entirely preventing their formation. For this reason, sediment control BMPs are considered secondary measures: they address contamination in the runoff after it’s produced, complementing primary erosion and stabilization practices. The more advanced or multi-stage treatment notions (tertiary or quaternary) aren’t how this classification is typically applied in this context.

In stormwater management, primary controls focus on preventing pollutants from entering runoff in the first place by minimizing soil disturbance and stabilizing exposed areas. Sediment control BMPs, such as silt fences, perimeter controls, and sediment basins, function by treating the runoff that does leave the site—removing sediment before it reaches a waterbody. They intercept and settle or filter sediments that have already been generated on-site, rather than entirely preventing their formation. For this reason, sediment control BMPs are considered secondary measures: they address contamination in the runoff after it’s produced, complementing primary erosion and stabilization practices. The more advanced or multi-stage treatment notions (tertiary or quaternary) aren’t how this classification is typically applied in this context.