A Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) prepares and certifies the SWPPP before construction begins. The QSD evaluates site conditions, determines the project’s risk level (an assessment of how likely construction activities are to generate stormwater pollution), and designs a combination of erosion and sediment control measures based on the terrain, soil type, and surrounding environment. Their work ensures the SWPPP meets all CGP requirements and provides a roadmap for maintaining clean stormwater throughout construction.

Before the first drop of rain even falls, the QSP’s work begins. The QSP is responsible for implementing the project’s SWPPP in the field even before ground is broken. They verify that all the required erosion, sediment, and runoff controls identified in the SWPPP are properly installed and functional. Throughout each phase of construction, the QSP inspects the site to confirm that good housekeeping practices—everyday actions that keep the site clean and organized, such as proper waste management, material storage, and spill prevention—are being followed, and that erosion and sediment controls like fiber rolls, silt fences, and stabilized construction entrances are performing as intended.

When storms arrive, the QSP may monitor turbidity, pH, or other pollutants in runoff to ensure water quality remains within regulatory limits. Afterward, they document site conditions, identify any needed improvements, and recommend corrective actions to keep the project in compliance with state and federal standards.

While a QSP’s work may go unnoticed, their impact is far-reaching. Every well-managed construction site reduces sediment, concrete washout, and other pollutants that could otherwise flow into waterways. Muddy runoff might not seem like a big deal, but sediment can smother fish habitats, block sunlight needed by aquatic plants, and make drinking water harder to treat. Even small amounts of sediment can cloud water for miles and disrupt aquatic life, and that’s only one pollutant. When you consider that stormwater can also carry oil, metals, trash, paint, and other chemicals from construction materials, compounding risks to ecosystems and to the rivers and beaches we rely on for recreation and public health.

So, the next time you’re cozied up inside with a cup of tea during a storm or see clear runoff leaving a construction site, take a moment to thank the QSPs out there. While most of us are staying dry, they’re some of the many stormwater superheroes working behind the scenes to keep our waterways clean.