What is one key purpose of the Short Term Storm Water Characterization Study?

The Short Term Storm Water Characterization Study is primarily designed to assess pollutant levels in stormwater runoff. This assessment is critical for understanding the quality of the stormwater discharges from a facility, identifying potential environmental impacts, and complying with regulatory requirements. By characterizing the pollutants present, operators can determine which constituents are present in significant quantities and gauge whether treatment practices are needed to reduce the impact on receiving waters. This data-driven approach is essential for developing effective management strategies to protect water quality and improve stormwater management systems.

Enhancing community relations, reducing operational costs, and improving employee training, while important for a facility’s overall operation, do not directly address the immediate need for understanding and measuring the pollutants contained in stormwater runoff. Thus, although these aspects can contribute to a facility's long-term sustainability and operational efficacy, the primary focus of the Short Term Storm Water Characterization Study is specifically related to pollutant assessment.