Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis:
Guiding Program Development & Implementation
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
May 29, 2024
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
Table of Contents
Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
Survey Background ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Survey Questions & Results ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results 1
Survey Background
A statewide survey was developed to support the development of the Synthesis of Street Sweeping
Research & Practices: Guiding Program Development & Implementation project. This project aims to
develop a guidance manual that will provide information and tools Permittees can use to assist with
developing and/or improving their street sweeping program to support compliance with the anticipated
2024–2029 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit requirements. The intention of this survey
was to gain a better understanding of Permittees’ priorities to inform manual content development. Both
administrative and field staff were encouraged to respond. The statewide survey consisted of 14
questions with different response options, including multiple choice, fill in the blank, and selecting
prioritized options. A total of 46 respondents completed the survey. Each survey question and the
corresponding results are presented below. Results are shown as (number of responses, percent of total
responses). The following section is a summary of the survey questions and results.
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results 2
Survey Questions & Results
1. What MS4 Permit was your jurisdiction issued or will be issued? (Select one)
2. What is the population residing within your jurisdiction's MS4 permit regulated area? (Select one)
6; 13.0%
3; 6.5%
33; 71.7%
2; 4.3%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
a. Phase I Permit
b. EWA Phase II Permit
c. WWA Phase II Permit
d. WSDOT
e. Other (Unknown)
MS4 Permit Jurisdiction
0; 0.0%
18; 39.1%
14; 30.4%
4; 8.7%
10; 21.7%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
a. less than 10,000
b. 10,000-50,000
c. 50,000-150,000
d. 150,000-250,000
e. greater than 250,000
Population within MS4
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
3. What best describes your role at your jurisdiction? (Select one)
4. The project team developed the following conceptual chapter outline before submitting the
proposal. The outline was developed based on discussions with regional stormwater work groups,
consideration for the tools needed to meet anticipated MS4 Permit requirements, and professional
judgment. On a scale of 3 being high importance and 1 being low importance, indicate the level of
importance of the following chapter concepts. If a chapter does not appear on the list that you believe
is important, please add it to the text box below.
Topic
Average Score
(1–3)
Standard
Deviation
Water quality benefits of street sweeping
2.57
0.61
Identifying high priority street sweeping areas
2.65
0.63
Establishing new street sweeping programs
1.91
0.75
Optimizing existing street sweeping programs
2.61
0.61
Documenting and Tracking Street Sweeping Activities
2.46
0.65
Street sweeping waste disposal
2.41
0.77
Street sweeping program cost considerations
2.50
0.54
24; 50.0%
14; 29.2%
6; 12.5%
1; 2.1%
20%
40%
60%
a. Stormwater Program Coordinator/Manager
b. Responsible for overseeing the street sweeping
program
c. Responsible for implementing the street sweeping
program
d. Street sweeping Operator
e. Other (Source Control Inspector, former Street
Sweeper Operator)
e. Other (Assists with Health Department Permits
for pile storage compliance)
e. Other
Responder Role in Jurisdiction
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
1. Water Quality Benefits of Street Sweeping
2. Identifying High Priority Street Sweeping Areas
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
3; 6.5%
14; 30.4%
29; 63.0%
Water Quality Benefits of Street Sweeping
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
4; 8.7%
8; 17.4%
34; 73.9%
Identifying High Priority Sweeping Areas
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
3. Establishing New Street Sweeping Programs
4. Optimizing Existing Street Sweeping Programs
15; 32.6%
20; 43.5%
11; 23.9%
Establishing New Street Sweeping Programs
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
3; 6.5%
12; 26.1%
31; 67.4%
Optimizing Existing Street Sweeping
Programs
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
5. Documenting and Tracking Street Sweeping Activities
6. Street Sweeping Waste Disposal
4; 8.7%
17; 37.0%
25; 54.3%
Documenting & Tracking Street Sweeping
Activities
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
8; 17.4%
11; 23.9%
27; 58.7%
Street Sweeping Waste Disposal
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
7. Street Sweeping Program Cost Considerations
If an area of importance does not appear above, please add it here.
Theme
Survey Response
Post Survey Notes
Addressed in Current Manual
Concept?
Rules and Regulations
• “Knowing and understanding the
rules or regulations”
Permit requirements will be addressed
in Chapter 1 Manual Introduction
Equipment/Machinery
• “Overview of sweeping machines
and sweeping methods/efficiencies
(such as sweeping on a damp day is
more effective to capture materials)”
• “Would like to get better
understanding about allowing water
to run off of sweeper in our heavy
rain season that happens to fall in
our heaviest leaf season. We are told
we can't but not one sweeper
company has a filter system built to
allow this.”
• Planned to include Chapter 4
Establishing New Street Sweeping
Programs.
• Could be addressed in Chapter 4
Establishing New Street Sweeping
Programs.
Sweeping Methods,
Planning, and
Improving Efficiency
• “Route development and sweeping
schedule optimization”
Planned to include Chapter 5
Optimizing Existing Street Sweeping
Programs.
Water Quality
Benefits/Impacts
• “Adaptive management: We need
more 6PPD fate & transport research
to know if street sweeping is
effective. Allowing the particles to sit
in the sun during dry periods may
ozonate the 6PPD out, sweeping may
consolidate 6PPD, fine vs. course
sweepers.”
• Addressed in Chapter 2 Water
Quality Benefits literature search
(status of current research), Could
also be included in Research Gaps
and Recommendations document.
• Could be included in Chapter 2
Water Quality Benefits.
1; 2.2%
21; 45.7%
24; 52.2%
Street Sweeping Program Cost
Considerations
1 – Low Importance
2 – Medum Importance
3 – High Importance
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
Theme
Survey Response
Post Survey Notes
Addressed in Current Manual
Concept?
• “The pollution generated by
increased street sweeping offsets is
at odds with the water quality
benefits of increased street
sweeping”
Testing
• “List what contaminants in sweep
waste should be tested.”
Could be included in Chapter 7 Street
Sweeping Waste Disposal.
Funding
• “Funding for additional equipment
and labor/disposal due to the
increased sweeping requirements.”
Addressed in Chapter 8 Street
Sweeping Program Cost
Considerations.
Additional Cost
Considerations
• “Cost of permit compliance for
temporary disposal of sweepings as
a sub-category of Program cost
considerations.”
Could be included in Chapter 8 Street
Sweeping Program Cost
Considerations.
Additional Comments
• “For the two areas I didn't score
high, I believe we'll get this
information in a separate report (but
maybe not other than 6PPD-q) and
Ecology is identifying the high
priority areas for us in the permit so I
scored that lower.”
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation | Statewide Survey Questions & Results
5. During the regional stormwater work group meetings, Permittees identified the following additional topics they would like included
in the street sweeping program manual. Please select the top 10 topics you feel are most important to include in the manual.
Topic
Selections
Percentage
Using street sweeper tracking data to improve program efficiency
8.2%
Methods to assess and prioritize roads (beyond what is required in the Permit) based on variables (weight,
bus/truck route, velocity, traffic density, start/stops)
6.4%
Methods for identifying when decant materials need to be sampled
6.2%
Addressing challenges such as protruding tree limbs, non-standard curbs, and street sweeping during leaf season
5.9%
Sweeping different types of surfaces, including permeable pavements
5.7%
Addressing labor and equipment issues, such as hiring enough staff and purchasing street sweepers
5.7%
Methods to minimize trips to the dewater/decant facility
5.5%
Effectiveness of sweeping curb vs non-curb roads
5.5%
Information or data a jurisdiction might collect to refine a program
5.5%
Program funding options
5.3%
Street sweeping program staff training
5.3%
Cost considerations for testing street waste to determine if it is hazardous waste
4.8%
Cost summary of implementing street sweeping requirements in the
Draft 2024-2029 Phase II Permits
4.8%
Parking policies and enforcement options
4.8%
Comparison of cost between street sweeping and vactoring catch basins
4.6%
Methods to effectively sweep areas that are too narrow for a full-size sweeper (e.g., protected bike lanes)
3.7%
Street sweeper size/type vs cost tradeoff (i.e., a larger sweeper will make less dewatering/decant trips but will
cost more to purchase and operate)
3.7%
Ongoing maintenance and staffing requirements required to operate a decant facility
3.4%
Sweeping non-street locations (e.g., parking lots, pathways)
3.0%
Interlocal agreements and community-based public/private partnerships
2.3%
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results 10
6. Does your jurisdiction have access to a decant facility? (Select one)
7. If yes, does the decant facility reside within your jurisdiction? (Select one)
8. How far must the operators travel to access the decant facility? (Fill in the blank)
41; 89.1%
4; 8.7%
1; 2.2%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
a. Yes
b. No
c. Unsure
Decant Facility Access
38; 82.6%
2; 4.3%
6; 13.0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
a. Yes
b. No
c. N/A
Decant Facility Within Jurisdiction
17; 37.0%
4; 8.7%
8; 17.4%
5; 10.9%
12; 26.1%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5-10
10-20
20+
N/A or No Information
Distance in Miles to Decant Facility
Appendix Y
Appendix Name
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
9. If decant facility access requires traveling to another jurisdiction, does the travel distance pose an
acceptable burden, or does it greatly hinder your sweeping program's efficiency? (Select one)
10. For jurisdictions with access to a decant facility, is the decant facility at or near capacity? (Select one)
11. How prepared is your jurisdiction to implement a street sweeping program for water quality
purposes? (Select one)
1; 2.2%
12; 26.1%
33; 71.7%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
a. Acceptable
b. Impacts sweeping efficiency
c. N/A
Decant Facility Travel Distance Impact
15; 32.6%
13; 28.3%
14; 30.4%
4; 8.7%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
a. Yes, near capacity
b. No, there is additional capacity available
c. Unsure
d. N/A
Decant Facility Capacity
11; 23.9%
9; 19.6%
17; 37.0%
9; 19.6%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
a. Our program requires a lot of work
b. Only minor improvements are needed
c. Our program is ready now
d. Not sure
Jurisdiction Preparedness
Appendix Y
Appendix Name
Street Sweeping Research & Practices Synthesis: Guiding Program Development & Implementation |
Statewide Survey Questions & Results
What do you need to be ready that could be included in the manual that has not already been
mentioned? (Fill in the blank)
Theme
Survey Response
Post Survey Notes
Addressed in Current
Manual Concept?
Equipment
• “Type of sweeper needed. We only have a
mechanical sweeper, and contract out
regenerative air vac sweepers.”
• “Addressing moving from an internal
combustion engine sweeper to an electric
or potentially a hydrogen sweeper. What
are the impacts(environmentally, cost,
availability etc.), what grant funding is
available, how to propose for a grant etc.”
• Addressed in Chapter 4
Establishing New Street
Sweeping Programs.
• Could be included in
Chapter 4 Establishing New
Street Sweeping Programs.
Measuring, Assessing,
and Tracking Program
Performance
• “How to practically or simply measure
sweeping effectiveness for program
modification”
• “Methods to develop a street sweeping
schedule, developing the schedule,
delineation of routes or areas (for tracking
purposes) called out in the schedule, and
anticipating budget and staffing to run the
street sweeping program.”
Addressed in Chapter 5
Optimizing Existing Street
Sweeping Practices
Staff and Training
• “Priority for an expanded sweepings
program is sufficient, Trained Staff
(significant issue due to large amount of
turnover since COVID), equipment & plans
for dealing with equipment maintenance.
These items are issues for existing
programs.”
• “I feel many municipalities will need
additional staffing as well as equipment. I
think we do a good job but when it is wet
or during leaf season we slow way down
when I think it is most important and the
only thing that would help is additional
staff”
Addressed in Chapter 4
Establishing New Street
Sweeping Programs.
Decant Facilities
• “Establishing a decant facility”
• “Additional sweeper, staff and an
additional decant facility/potentially a new
solid waste handling permit if waste is
deemed hazardous.”
Addressed in Chapter 7
Disposing of Street Sweeping
Waste.
Sweeping Schedule and
Establishing Routes
• “Adding new routes to meet the permit
requirements; how to optimize the…