Regulations
El Paso County SWPPP Checklist: Concrete Washout & Construction Waste
El Paso County
Jurisdiction: El Paso County & City of Colorado Springs
Permit / authority: Governing Permits: El Paso County MS4 Permit (COR090011) / City of Colorado Springs
El Paso County coordinates stormwater regulations heavily with the City of Colorado Springs. The county adopted the City of Colorado Springs Drainage Criteria Manual Volume 2 (DCMV2) as its baseline for stormwater quality, modified by Appendix I of the County Engineering Criteria Manual (ECM). If you are managing concrete washout in El Paso County or Colorado Springs, site inspectors use these design criteria to evaluate compliance.
1. The 100-Foot Setback & Earthen Ridge Mandate
The Rule: All on-site waste management practices, including liquid wastes and designated maintenance areas, must be located a minimum of 100 feet from any drainage course whenever possible. The El Paso Nuance: If waste is not stored in a pre-fabricated, non-porous container, the county explicitly requires the containment area to be enclosed by a 12-inch high compacted earthen ridge. Furthermore, if this enclosed area is located on porous soil, it must be covered with a non-porous lining to prevent soil contamination via infiltration.
2. The "Predicted Precipitation" Anchored Cover Rule
The Rule: Discharges of pollutants must be reduced to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) to protect water quality. The El Paso Nuance: El Paso County Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) guidelines establish a strict weather-response protocol. Whenever precipitation is predicted, waste materials must be covered with a non-porous cover. This cover must be anchored on all sides to prevent wind removal, specifically to prevent precipitation from leaching potential pollutants out of the waste and into the soil.
3. DCMV2 Structural Compliance
The Rule: Land disturbance activities must manage and mitigate stormwater quality impacts using permanent and temporary Best Management Practices (BMPs). The El Paso Nuance: Because El Paso County relies on the City of Colorado Springs DCMV2, all temporary water quality control measures (including concrete washout areas) must structurally conform to the exact design standards discussed in Appendix I of the ECM and the DCMV2. Non-standard containment methods are heavily scrutinized.
4. The Fountain Creek Watershed Scrutiny
The Rule: The state of Colorado provides specific legal parameters (CRS §37-92-602(8)) regarding the operation of individual stormwater detention and infiltration facilities. The El Paso Nuance: The Fountain Creek watershed is explicitly excluded from standard legal protections granted to other regional infiltration facilities unless they are strictly operated in compliance with the MS4 permit. Because of historical flooding and watershed sensitivity, MS4 inspectors in the Fountain Creek drainage basin are hyper-vigilant regarding any unauthorized infiltration or runoff from construction sites.
