MANAGING CONCRETE
WASHOUT
                                                                                             DEQ rules effective 12/15/15
                                                                                             For managing concrete at
                                                                                             construction sites covered under
                                                                                             1200 C and 1200 CN permits
                                                                                             (a) Wash concrete trucks and
                                                                                             equipment off site (in an appropriately
                                                                                             protected area) or in designated
                                                                                             concrete washout areas only.
                                                                                             (b) Direct all wash water into a pit or
                                                                                             leak-proof container. The pit does not
                                                                                             need to be lined or leak-proof, but the
                                                                                             pit or container must be designed so
                                                                                             that no overflows can occur due to
                                                                                             inadequate sizing or precipitation.
                                                                                             Concrete wash water must not
                                                                                             adversely affect groundwater.
                                                                                             (c) Handle (for example, through
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: THIS CONCRETE DISPOSAL AREA IS CLEARLY DEMARCATED, LARGE ENOUGH,
                                                                                             disposal, reuse or recycling) wash water
AND CONSTRUCTED BELOW GRADE TO MAXIMIZE CONTAINMENT.
                                                                                             as waste. Do not dispose of concrete
                                                                                             wash water or wash out concrete trucks
As a concrete company or contractor, you have important responsibilities for
                                                                                             onto the ground, or into storm drains,
protecting plants, animals, people and waterways from concrete waste and wash
                                                                                             open ditches, streets, or streams.
water. Clean Water Services (CWS) is here to help you implement proper concrete
management on the construction site.
                                                                                             (d) Do not dump excess concrete on
Why does it matter?                                                                          site, except in designated concrete
Concrete contains heavy metals and significant amounts of sediment; it is highly             washout areas.
alkaline and corrosive. For these reasons and more, concrete material can have a
significant negative impact on fish and other aquatic organisms. Exposure to                 (e) Handle (for example, through
concrete can also affect groundwater quality, stream pH, tree growth, and other              disposal, reuse or recycling) hardened
elements of a healthy environment.                                                           concrete waste consistent with
                                                                                             handling of other construction wastes.
How to keep construction site concrete out of local waterways
                                                                                             (f) Concrete spillage or concrete
	 •	 Keep washout area at least 50 feet from streets, storm drains, open ditches
                                                                                             discharge to surface waters of the state
		 and streams.
                                                                                             	is prohibited.
	 •	 Contain the disposal to keep concrete from flowing down slope.
                                                                                              — from Section 8(ii)2 of DEQ 1200C/CN permit
	 •	 Use washout area only for chutes, tools and equipment.
	 •	 Install storm drain protection at any inlets that are down grade from the washout.
MANAGING CONCRETE WASHOUT
 CONCRETE WASH-OUT AREA DETAIL.
                                                                                                        Resources
                                                                                                        Stormwater Best Management
                                                                                                        Practice: Concrete Washout
                                                                                                        epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
                                                                                                        concretewashout.pdf
             CORRECT DISPOSAL OF EXCESS CONCRETE HELPS PROTECT PLANTS, ANIMALS,
             PEOPLE AND WATERWAYS.
                                                                                                        The CWS Development Services group
                                                                                                        is here to review your project in the
                                                                                                        most effective and efficient way, while
                                                                                                        protecting the Tualatin River Watershed.
                                                                                                        Our partners include municipalities,
                                                                                                        environmental organizations, and
                                                                                                        developers large and small.
             OVERFLOW POTENTIAL IS HIGH WHEN THE CONCRETE WASHOUT IS AT 75% OR                                   DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
             GREATER CAPACITY.                                                                                  2550 SW Hillsboro Highway
                                                                                                                 Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
                                                                                                                       503.681.5100
                                                                                                              permits@cleanwaterservices.org
                                                                                                        cleanwaterservices.org/permits-development
Revised June 2016
    Main Office     •   2550 SW Hillsboro Highway   •   Hillsboro, Oregon 97123   •   p: 503.681.3600 f: 503.681.3603   •   cleanwaterservices.org