Bradley County Stormwater Program

06/01/2026

🌧️ What is a SCM (Stormwater Control Measure)? 🌿

Ever notice how rainwater rushes off roads, roofs, and parking lots during a storm? Without proper management, that runoff can carry pollutants, cause flooding, and erode streams. That’s where SCMs come in!

A Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) is a system or practice designed to capture, slow down, filter, or absorb stormwater runoff before it reaches our waterways.

Examples of SCMs include:
✅ Rain gardens
✅ Detention or retention ponds
✅ Bioswales
✅ Permeable pavement
✅ Underground stormwater systems

SCMs help:
💧 Reduce flooding
🌎 Improve water quality
🌱 Protect streams and wildlife
🏘️ Keep our communities safer and more resilient

Next time you see a pond near a neighborhood or plants designed into a parking lot, you just might be looking at a stormwater control measure working to protect your community and the environment!

05/29/2026

🌧️💧 END OF MAY REMINDER: ONLY RAIN DOWN THE DRAIN! 💧🌧️

As May comes to a close and construction activity ramps up 🏗️, it’s a great time to remember how easily stormwater can carry pollution off job sites and into our local waterways...no treatment + no filter= waterway pollution.

Construction runoff can pick up sediment, chemicals, trash, and oils 🪨🧪🗑️⛽, all of which can harm rivers and streams if not properly controlled. That’s why Best Management Practices (BMPs) matter!

🏗️ BMPs that protect water quality include:
🚧 Silt fences and erosion controls
🚜 Stabilized construction entrances
🧱 Proper concrete washout areas
🌿 Covering soil and stockpiles
👀 Regular inspections and cleanup

💡 Pollution Prevention Check: This week we challenge you to commit to atleast ONE action that can make a big impact: keep materials covered, fix erosion controls, clean spills immediately, or remind your crew: “Only rain down the drain!”

👇 Quick question: What belongs in a storm drain? (Hint: only one answer is correct!)
A) Rainwater 🌧️
B) Concrete washout 🧱
C) Motor oil 🛢️
D) Sediment 🪨

Drop your answer below and remember to help keep our waterways clean this season!💧

05/28/2026

🚧 Construction sites can impact water quality,but with proper precautions and community awareness, we can reduce the damage.🚧

🙌 Be part of the solution:
Ensure your construction site has proper EPSC's installed before work begins
Report anything that doesn’t look right!

📞 423-728-7102
🖥️ https://bradleycountytn.gov/departments/planning-inspections/stormwater/

💧 Let’s work together to keep our water clean and safe!

05/27/2026

💧🚧 CAN YOU SPOT THE RISK?

Imagine this:
It just rained… 🌧️
A construction site nearby has no barriers…
Muddy water is flowing toward the street… 😬

❓ What happens next?
A) It evaporates
B) It soaks safely into the ground
C) It flows into storm drains and waterways

👇 Comment your answer!👇

05/26/2026

🏗️ Construction Site BMP Education Matters!

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are essential for keeping construction sites safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible. From controlling erosion and sediment to managing stormwater and waste, proper BMP education helps protect our communities and natural resources.

A well-trained crew isn’t just building structures—they’re building sustainability into every project.

Let’s stay proactive, stay compliant, and build better together. 🌎👷‍♂️

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

The Bradley County Building, Planning, and Stormwater Office will be Closed on Monday 5/25 in observance of Memorial Day

05/21/2026

📋🚧 FROM PERMIT TO PROJECT: PROTECTING WATER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Did you know construction sites within the urbanized area might require permits and inspections to help prevent stormwater pollution? 👀

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Apply for local permits
2️⃣ (If >1 acre) Obtain TDEC permit coverage
3️⃣ Submit erosion & sediment control plans
4️⃣ Install BMPs (Best Management Practices) 🛠️
5️⃣ Routine inspections during construction 🔍
6️⃣ Final stabilization after the project is complete 🌱

💧 Why all the steps?
Because even small amounts of runoff can carry pollutants into our creeks and rivers.

🚫 No BMPs = higher risk for water pollution

🙌 Good news: These measures help protect Bradley County’s natural resources while allowing growth to continue responsibly.

👀 See a site that looks unprotected? Speak up!

📞 423-728-7102
🖥️ https://bradleycountytn.gov/departments/planning-inspections/stormwater/

💙 Clean water starts with smart construction!

05/20/2026

💡 Even small amounts of runoff pollution can:
• Cloud the water 🌫️
• Harm fish and wildlife 🐟
• Disrupt natural habitats 🌿
🚫 Remember: Storm drains are for RAIN ONLY!
👀 See muddy water leaving a construction site? That’s a red flag!
📞 Report it: 423-728-7102
🖥️ Online: https://bradleycountytn.gov/departments/planning-inspections/stormwater/
💙 Protecting our water starts with awareness—thanks for being part of the solution!

05/19/2026

🌿🚧 BUILDING WITH CARE

Construction is important for growth, but so is protecting our environment! 💧

That’s why every permitted construction site is required to use BMPs (Best Management Practices) to control stormwater runoff.

🛠️ Think of BMPs as the “first line of defense” against pollution to:
✔️ Keep soil in place
✔️ Prevent muddy runoff
✔️ Protect nearby streams and habitats 🐟

🔍 Plus, sites are regularly inspected to make sure everything stays in compliance.
👀 Next time you pass a construction site, look for BMPs in action!

💬 Have questions or notice something off?
📞 423-728-7102
🖥️ https://bradleycountytn.gov/departments/planning-inspections/stormwater/

💙 Together, we can support growth AND protect our waterways!