Study guide
14.2 Good Housekeeping Part 1: Concrete Washout, Equipment Maintenance, Materials Management, and Secondary Containment
Free CESSWI Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspector Study Guide 2026 Exam
Track your progress as you read
Finished sections get a check mark.
1 Chapter 1: CESSWI Program Overview, Scope of Practice & Professional Ethics
1.1 CESSWI Scope of Practice, Eligibility, and Exam Structure 1.2 Certification Renewal, PDH Requirements, and Audit Policies 1.3 EnviroCert Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
2 Chapter 2: Federal, State, and Local Stormwater Regulations
2.1 Federal Water-Pollution History and Stormwater Phases 2.2 CWA Sections, Water Quality, and Related Federal Programs 2.3 EPA Construction Permit Coverage and Operational Clocks 2.4 Industrial MSGP and Municipal MS4 Programs 2.5 Regulatory Compliance, Enforcement Mechanisms, and Penalties
3 Chapter 3: Soil Mechanics, Erosion Processes, and Climatic Factors
3.1 Soil Formation, Horizons, and Geomorphology 3.2 Soil Texture, Mechanics, and Revegetation 3.3 Splash, Sheet, Rill, Gully, Channel Erosion, and Slope Movement 3.4 Wind Erosion, Sediment Transport, Climatic Erosivity, and Resource Impacts
4 Chapter 4: Hydrology, Runoff Characteristics, and Drainage Principles
4.1 The Hydrologic Cycle, Watershed Drainage Planning, and Precipitation 4.2 Hydrologic Soil Groups, Disturbed Profiles, and Time Parameters 4.3 Hydrograph Characteristics, Curve Numbers, and Runoff Estimation Equations
5 Chapter 5: Inspection Fundamentals, Duties, and Field Procedures
5.1 Inspector Roles, Scope of Authority, and Core Professional Skills 5.2 Pre-Inspection Document Review and Inspector Support Equipment 5.3 Systematic Field Inspection Sequence, Post-Inspection Meetings, and Follow-Through
6 Chapter 6: Inspection Elements for Active Construction Sites
6.1 Pre-Construction Meetings, Entrance Posting, and On-Site Document Inspections 6.2 Inspecting Active Construction Controls and Diagnosing BMP Failure Modes 6.3 Final Stabilization Verification, Final Inspections, and Notice of Termination
7 Chapter 7: Stormwater Monitoring, Field Sampling, and Chain of Custody
7.1 Permit Monitoring Triggers and Water-Quality Indicators 7.2 Sampling Preparation and Analytical Parameters 7.3 Sampling Locations, Collection Methods, and Field Meter Calibration 7.4 Sample Preservation, Data Recording, Shipping, and Chain of Custody
8 Chapter 8: Inspection Documentation, Reporting, and Map Management
8.1 Inspection Notes and Evidence Procedures 8.2 Objective Findings and Photographic Evidence 8.3 Proper Reporting Techniques and Corrective Action Log Management 8.4 Site Drawing (Map) Management, Compliance Resolution, and Enforcement Records
9 Chapter 9: Professional Communication and Site Safety for Inspectors
9.1 Communication Protocols in Pre-Construction, Post-Inspection, and O&M Meetings 9.2 Dealing with Difficult People, Problematic Sites, and Unpleasant Findings 9.3 Site Hazard Recognition: Physical, Biological, Trenching, and Confined Spaces 9.4 Hazardous Substances, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Spill Response, and PPE
10 Chapter 10: Stormwater Plan Reading, Map Interpretation, and Site Calculations
10.1 Stormwater Plan Types, Credentials, and Authority 10.2 SWPPP Components and Permit Notifications 10.3 Civil Plan Sets, Legends, Phased Sequencing, and Living Site Maps 10.4 Topography, Contour Lines, Slope Calculations, and Plan Amendments
11 Chapter 11: BMP Framework, Site Planning, and Erosion Control Practices
11.1 Six Functional BMP Categories, Preservation of Vegetation, Phasing, and Tree Protection 11.2 Seeding and Sod Establishment 11.3 Hydroseeding and Hydromulching Inspection 11.4 Mulch and Rolled Erosion-Control Products 11.5 Tackifiers, Soil Binders, Roughening, and Temporary Cover
12 Chapter 12: Perimeter, Linear, and In-Water Sediment Control Practices
12.1 Perimeter & Sheet-Flow Sediment Barriers: Silt Fence, Fiber Rolls, Straw Bales, and Filter Dikes 12.2 Access & Roadside Sediment/Runoff Controls: Stabilized Entrances, Cut-Back Curbs, and Ditch Checks 12.3 In-Water & Dewatering Controls: Temporary Stream Crossings, Turbidity Curtains, and Sediment Bags
13 Chapter 13: Sediment Basins, Traps, and Runoff Conveyance Controls
13.1 Sediment Basins and Traps 13.2 Porous Baffles and Surface Skimmers 13.3 Runoff Conveyances: Diversions, Swales, Pipe Slope Drains, and Rock Check Dams 13.4 Riprap and Gabion Inspection 13.5 Retaining Walls, Outlet Protection, and Wet Ponds
14 Chapter 14: Storm Drain Inlet Protection and Good Housekeeping BMPs
14.1 Storm Drain Inlet Protection: At-Grade, Curb, Block & Gravel, Excavated, Fabric Drop, Gravel Bag, Stone Collar, and Pre-Manufactured 14.2 Good Housekeeping Part 1: Concrete Washout, Equipment Maintenance, Materials Management, and Secondary Containment 14.3 Good Housekeeping Part 2: Stockpiles, Dust Control, Wind Fence, Street Cleaning, Sanitary Waste, and Trash
15 Chapter 15: Post-Construction Stormwater Management BMPs
15.1 Vegetative & Structural Dispersion BMPs: Final Ground Cover, Headwalls, Level Spreaders, Filter Strips, and Riparian Buffers 15.2 Permeable Surfaces and Construction Protection 15.3 Infiltration, Bioretention, and Media Filters 15.4 Detention, Retention & Proprietary BMPs: Dry/Wet Basins, Wetlands, Inline Storage, Catch Basin Inserts, Vaults, and Manufactured Devices
14.2 Good Housekeeping Part 1: Concrete Washout, Equipment Maintenance, Materials Management, and Secondary Containment
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Concrete washout water is a prohibited illicit non-stormwater discharge (caustic pH of 11 to 13 plus hexavalent chromium and trace heavy metals); washout facilities must be sited at least 50 feet from storm drains and waters, lined with tear-free minimum 10-mil polyethylene or watertight bins, cleaned at 50% to 75% capacity, and covered before rain.
On-site equipment fueling and maintenance must occur in a designated flat, impervious or lined area at least 50 feet from drainage ways using drip pans and dry hydrophobic absorbents; hosing down spills or applying outdoor soaps, detergents, or emulsifying degreasers is strictly prohibited.
Pollutant-generating construction materials (cement bags, lime, gypsum, fertilizers, paints, solvents, form oils) must be elevated off the ground on wooden pallets under weatherproof cover (trailers or tarps) with a complete 16-section GHS Safety Data Sheet (SDS) binder and spill kit on site.
Secondary containment around bulk chemicals and fuel tanks (mandatory under 40 CFR Part 112 SPCC when aboveground oil storage exceeds 1,320 gallons in 55-gallon or larger containers) must hold at least 110% of the single largest container volume, and any gravity drain valve must be kept locked closed and opened only after visual verification of zero petroleum sheen.
Last updated: October 2026
Note
Using dimensions in this section: Construction dimensions, material sizes, slopes, cleanout fractions, and drawdown ranges below describe example practice details. Verify the approved design, manufacturer instructions, and applicable permit before using a number as an inspection acceptance criterion. Regulatory thresholds identified explicitly as EPA/OSHA requirements remain distinct.
Source Control Philosophy: Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention ( 12.6 )
Whereas erosion and sediment control BMPs manage displaced soil particles, Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention BMPs ( CESSWI Review Manual Section 12.6 and EPA Construction General Permit [CGP] Part 2.3 ) prevent chemical, caustic, petroleum, nutrient, sanitary, and solid-waste pollutants from ever contacting rainwater or stormwater runoff. Once dissolved chemicals, emulsified oils, or high-pH washwaters mix with stormwater, conventional sediment traps, silt fences, and inlet barriers cannot remove them.
1. Concrete Washout ( 12.6.1 )
Chute, mixer drum, concrete pump-truck hopper, wheelbarrow, and hand-tool washout water—derived from Structural Portland Cement Concrete, masonry mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, or concrete saw-cutting slurry—is explicitly classified as a prohibited illicit non-stormwater discharge under EPA CGP Part 1.3 and Part 2.3.4 .
Pollutant Hazard: Caustic pH 11 – 13 \text{pH } 11\text{–}13 pH 11 – 13 and Heavy Metals
When water contacts uncured Portland cement, hydration reactions leach dissolved calcium hydroxide ( Ca(OH) 2 \text{Ca(OH)}_2 Ca(OH) 2 ) and alkaline potassium/sodium hydroxides into solution, driving the liquid to a highly caustic pH of 11 to 13 \text{pH of } 11\text{ to }13 pH of 11 to 13 (comparable to household bleach or oven cleaner), accompanied by dissolved hexavalent chromium ( Cr 6 + \text{Cr}^{6+} Cr 6 + ), trace heavy metals, and fine suspended limestone/silica solids . If discharged to a storm drain or stream, caustic concrete washout water chemically burns fish gills, causes acute mortality in amphibians and benthic macroinvertebrates, precipitates calcium carbonate crusts that cement streambed spawning gravels, and violates narrative and numeric water-quality standards (typically pH 6.5 to 8.5 \text{pH } 6.5\text{ to }8.5 pH 6.5 to 8.5 or 9.0 9.0 9.0 ).
Siting and High-Visibility Signage
Minimum 50 -Foot 50\text{-Foot} 50 -Foot Setback: Locate designated concrete washout facilities on flat, stable upland ground at least 50 feet 50\text{ feet} 50 feet away from storm drain inlets, open drainage ditches, curb gutters, wetlands, and surface waters .
Convenient Access & Signage: Position the washout area near the stabilized construction exit or primary concrete staging zone so ready-mix truck drivers can wash their chutes immediately after pouring without tracking mud across the site. Install durable, high-visibility "Concrete Washout" signage visible from the haul road so delivery drivers never dump chute washings onto bare ground or into roadside ditches.
Mandatory Leak-Proof Containment Designs
Under EPA CGP Part 2.3.4 and Review Manual Section 12.6.1 , concrete washout facilities must provide 100 % 100\% 100% leak-proof containment of both solids and caustic liquids so high-pH leachate cannot seep into underlying soil or shallow groundwater. Unlined earthen pits are strictly prohibited in permeable soils or where leachate can migrate. Approved designs include:
Prefabricated Watertight Containers: Commercial watertight steel roll-off washout bins (with sealed tailgates), rigid heavy-duty polyethylene washout tubs, or portable framed vinyl bladder systems—often paired with an inclined steel or timber ramp to accommodate low-clearance concrete pump-truck hoppers.
Plastic-Lined Bermed or Excavated Pits: Below-grade excavated pits or above-grade hay-bale, sandbag, or earth-bermed enclosures (minimum 10 ft × 10 ft 10\text{ ft} \times 10\text{ ft} 10 ft × 10 ft interior footprint) lined continuously with a single sheet of heavy-duty minimum 10 -mil 10\text{-mil} 10 -mil polyethylene plastic sheeting ( 10 to 30 mil 10\text{ to }30\text{ mil} 10 to 30 mil , or double-layered 10 -mil 10\text{-mil} 10 -mil sheeting placed over a smooth sand bedding layer free of sharp stones or roots). The plastic liner must be completely free of tears, punctures, holes, or unsealed seams , anchored securely over the outer berm crest, and fronted by a stabilized gravel approach pad so heavy mixer trucks do not back their tires onto the plastic edge and rip the liner.
Saw-Cutting and Coring Slurry Control: Wet concrete saw-cutting, diamond coring, and surface grinding generate fine, caustic pH 12 \text{pH } 12 pH 12 slurry that flows rapidly down paved gutters. Crews must capture saw-cutting slurry continuously at the blade using an industrial wet-vacuum , block downstream curb gutters with temporary Impervious Gutter Berms/putty dams, and transfer collected slurry into the leak-proof concrete washout container.
Inspection and Maintenance Triggers
Daily & Routine Checks: Inspect washout facilities daily during active concrete pours and during every scheduled SWPPP inspection to verify that drivers are using the facility and that the plastic liner or bin has zero tears, punctures, or perimeter leaks .
50 % 50\% 50% to 75 % 75\% 75% Capacity Cleanout Trigger: Pump out liquid and break up/remove hardened concrete solids (or swap out the roll-off bin) whenever the washout facility reaches 50 % 50\% 50% to 75 % 75\% 75% of its design capacity , always maintaining at least 4 to 12 inches 4\text{ to }12\text{ inches} 4 to 12 inches of vertical freeboard below the top rim.
Pre-Storm Tarp Cover: Cover the concrete washout facility with a secured waterproof tarp prior to any forecasted rainstorm so rainfall cannot fill the containment pit and overflow caustic high-pH liquid onto the surrounding ground.
2. Equipment Maintenance and Cleaning ( 12.6.3 )
Construction machinery—bulldozers, excavators, scrapers, loaders, pavers, cranes, and portable diesel generators—carries large volumes of diesel fuel, crankcase motor oil, high-pressure hydraulic fluid, gear lubricants, and ethylene glycol antifreeze.
Siting, Drip Pans, and Daily Leak Checks
Off-Site Preference & 50 -Foot 50\text{-Foot} 50 -Foot Setback: Perform major equipment overhauls at off-site commercial repair facilities whenever feasible. All routine on-site fueling, greasing, and maintenance must occur inside a designated, flat, impervious or plastic-lined maintenance area located at least 50 feet 50\text{ feet} 50 feet away from storm drain inlets, drainage ditches, wetlands, and surface waters .
Dedicated Drip Pans & Daily Inspection: Place drip pans, catchment trays, or hydrophobic absorbent pads underneath all parked heavy equipment, hydraulic hose couplings, and fuel-transfer valves. Inspect machinery daily before startup for weeping hydraulic cylinders, cracked hoses, or oil drips, and tag leaking equipment out of service until repaired. Never top off fuel tanks to the point of overflowing when solar heating expands the fuel.
Dry Spill Cleanup Rule & Absolute Prohibition on Hosing or Outdoor Soaps ( 12.6.3 ): Minor fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid drips and spills must be cleaned up immediately using dry hydrophobic absorbent pads, socks, pillows, or granular clay absorbents (kitty litter / floor dry) , which are then swept up, bagged, and disposed of as regulated petroleum/hazardous waste. NEVER hose down a fuel or oil spill with water, and NEVER apply soaps, detergents, or emulsifying degreasers outdoors! Soaps and degreasers chemically emulsify petroleum hydrocarbons into microscopic droplets suspended throughout the water column, allowing oil to bypass oil-water separators and hydrophobic booms while discharging toxic surfactants and dissolved hydrocarbons straight into storm sewers. If outdoor equipment washing is performed on site, use high-pressure water without any soap, detergent, or solvent over a contained wash pad that drains to a closed-loop recycling unit or sediment trap.
3. Materials Management ( 12.6.4 )
Improperly stored construction materials exposed to rainfall or stormwater run-on can leach toxic metals, nutrients, extreme pH, and organic solvents.
Pollutant-Generating Materials Inventory: The SWPPP must inventory all potential pollutant-generating materials stored on site, including bagged Portland cement, lime, mortar, and agricultural gypsum ; granular or liquid N-P-K fertilizers ; herbicides and pesticides ; paints, stains, epoxies, curing compounds, and solvents ; asphalt emulsions and form-release oils ; and pressure-treated or creosote-treated lumber .
Pallet Elevation, Weatherproof Cover & Berming: Store all water-reactive, leachable, or powdered dry bags and chemical containers elevated off the ground on wooden pallets and under weatherproof cover —inside locked weatherproof storage trailers/Conex containers, beneath permanent roofed sheds, or covered with tightly secured waterproof tarps—surrounded by a perimeter berm so stormwater run-on cannot contact the materials. Keep containers closed with tight lids when not in active use, and segregate incompatible chemicals (e.g., oxidizers separated from flammables; acids separated from bases).
16-Section GHS Safety Data Sheets (SDS) & Spill Kits: Maintain a complete, accessible binder of 16-section Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every chemical product on site, and station fully stocked spill response kits at the material storage yard and fueling station.
4. Secondary Containment ( 12.6.6 )
Secondary containment provides an outer, impervious barrier around bulk liquid chemical totes (IBCs), 55 -gallon 55\text{-gallon} 55 -gallon drums, and aboveground fuel storage tanks (ASTs) so that if the primary tank wall, sight glass, or dispensing valve ruptures, 100 % 100\% 100% of the spilled liquid is captured before reaching soil or stormwater.
SPCC Regulatory Threshold and the 110 % 110\% 110% Volumetric Sizing Rule
40 CFR Part 112 SPCC Threshold: Under the federal Oil Pollution Prevention regulation ( 40 CFR Part 112 — Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure [SPCC] rule ), a formal SPCC Plan with compliant secondary containment is legally mandatory whenever a site's aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity exceeds 1 , 320 gallons 1,320\text{ gallons} 1 , 320 gallons (counting only containers with a shell capacity of 55 gallons 55\text{ gallons} 55 gallons or greater ) or buried underground storage exceeds 42 , 000 gallons 42,000\text{ gallons} 42 , 000 gallons .
Mandatory 110 % 110\% 110% Volumetric Sizing Rule: Every secondary containment dike, concrete/steel basin, lined earthen berm, or modular polyethylene drum spill pallet must be constructed of impervious material (free of unsealed cracks, seams, or rodent burrows) and sized to hold at least 110 % 110\% 110% of the volume of the single largest tank or container located inside the containment footprint (or 10 % 10\% 10% of the aggregate volume of all containers within the dike, whichever is greater). This provides 100 % 100\% 100% containment of a catastrophic rupture of the largest tank plus a 10 % 10\% 10% volumetric freeboard allowance for precipitation .
Secondary Containment Drain Valve Lockout & Dewatering Protocol ( 12.6.6 ): If an outdoor secondary containment berm or dike is equipped with a gravity stormwater drain pipe and valve, the drain valve must remain LOCKED in the CLOSED position at all times . Accumulated rainwater inside the containment basin may be discharged to the ground only after a qualified inspector:
Visually inspects the impounded water to verify zero visible petroleum sheen, oil film, floating droplets, chemical discoloration, or hydrocarbon odor ;
Unlocks and opens the valve under direct supervision to drain the clean rainwater slowly across a stabilized, vegetated upland area;
Immediately closes and re-locks the drain valve upon completion; and
Records the date, inspector name, visual sheen verification, and discharge event in the SWPPP / SPCC containment drainage log .
If any petroleum sheen or chemical contamination is detected, the valve must remain locked shut and the contaminated liquid must be skimmed with hydrophobic oil-absorbent pads/booms or pumped out by a licensed hazardous-waste vacuum truck.
Summary of Good Housekeeping Part 1 BMP Standards
Good Housekeeping BMP Review Manual Ref. Minimum Setback & Sizing Rules Primary Containment & Material Rules Critical Inspection & Maintenance Triggers
Concrete Washout 12.6.1 ≥ 50 ft \ge 50\text{ ft} ≥ 50 ft from storm drains, ditches, and surface waters; ≥ 10 ft × 10 ft \ge 10\text{ ft} \times 10\text{ ft} ≥ 10 ft × 10 ft pit with 4 to 12 in. 4\text{ to }12\text{ in.} 4 to 12 in. freeboard Prefab watertight steel/poly bin OR bermed/excavated pit with tear-free ≥ 10 -mil \ge 10\text{-mil} ≥ 10 -mil polyethylene liner and gravel approach pad Inspect daily during pours; clean out or replace at 50 % 50\% 50% to 75 % 75\% 75% capacity; cover with waterproof tarp before rain
Equipment Maintenance & Cleaning 12.6.3 ≥ 50 ft \ge 50\text{ ft} ≥ 50 ft from storm drains, ditches, and waters on a flat, impervious or lined pad Drip pans under parked equipment and fuel couplings; dry hydrophobic absorbents/granular clay for drips Inspect equipment daily for leaks; NEVER hose down spills or use outdoor soaps/emulsifying degreasers
Materials Management 12.6.4 ≥ 50 ft \ge 50\text{ ft} ≥ 50 ft from drainage ways inside a bermed upland storage yard Elevate bags/drums off ground on wooden pallets; keep under roof/trailer or secured waterproof tarp Maintain 16-section GHS SDS binder and stocked spill kits; keep lids closed; segregate incompatible chemicals
Secondary Containment 12.6.6 Mandatory for bulk liquids/fuel tanks (and 40 CFR 112 SPCC if > 1 , 320 gal > 1,320\text{ gal} > 1 , 320 gal oil in ≥ 55 -gal \ge 55\text{-gal} ≥ 55 -gal containers); volume ≥ 110 % \ge 110\% ≥ 110% of largest tank Impervious steel basin, poly spill pallet, concrete wall, or lined berm; fuel nozzle drip catchment Keep gravity drain valve LOCKED CLOSED at all times; inspect for zero sheen/odor before supervised draining and log event
SPCC sizing and chemical-treatment qualification
For the detailed method and approval qualifications, review the related CESSWI explanation .