Overview
BMPs (Best Management Practices) are approved methods for controlling stormwater pollution. SwiftComply maintains a BMP database that your organization uses to document which practices are implemented at each site. BMPs can be linked to deficiencies and rated for effectiveness.
BMP database structure
The BMP database has three levels:
BMPs, Individual practices (e.g., Silt Fence, Fiber Roll, Inlet Protection, Street Sweeping).
BMP Categories, Groups of related BMPs (e.g., Erosion Control, Sediment Control, Good Housekeeping).
BMP Effectiveness Ratings, A scale for rating how well a BMP is performing (e.g., Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor).
Each BMP has a name, an optional weight (for scoring), and can belong to one or more categories.
Managing BMPs (Admin)
Adding a BMP
Go to Settings > BMPs.
Click to add a new BMP.
Enter the Name and optionally a Weight (default: 1).
Assign the BMP to one or more categories.
Click Save.
Managing BMP categories
Go to Settings > BMP Categories.
Create categories to organize your BMPs (e.g., Erosion Control, Sediment Control, Waste Management).
Categories appear as groupings in report template dropdowns and analytics.
Configuring effectiveness ratings
Effectiveness ratings define how you measure BMP performance:
Go to the effectiveness ratings configuration.
Each rating has a Name (e.g., Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor), Order (display order), and Rating (numeric score).
These ratings are used when evaluating BMP implementations at sites.
There are two types of BMPs: global BMPs (shared across all instances from the system library) and instance-specific BMPs (created by your organization). Both appear in your BMP database.
How BMPs are used
BMP Implementations: When a BMP is installed or applied at a site, it becomes a BMP Implementation. Implementations track the specific installation with coordinates, photos, and effectiveness ratings.
Deficiency linking: Deficiencies can be linked to BMP implementations, documenting which BMP failed or needs attention.
Report templates: Report forms can include BMP composite fields that let inspectors document BMP conditions during inspections.
Analytics: BMP effectiveness data feeds into the Analytics dashboard for trend analysis.
FAQ
Q: What's the difference between a BMP and a BMP Implementation?
A: A BMP is the practice type (e.g., 'Silt Fence'). A BMP Implementation is a specific instance of that practice at a specific site (e.g., 'Silt Fence along the north boundary of Site A').
Q: Can I delete a BMP from the database?
A: Deleting a BMP from the master database orphans any implementations of that type at your sites. Historical inspection reports may no longer display the BMP name correctly. Best practice: rename the BMP to include "(OLD)" or "(INACTIVE)" to preserve historical records instead of deleting.
Q: How do BMP weights work?
A: BMP weights are used in scoring calculations. A higher weight means the BMP has more impact on the overall score. The default weight is 1.
Q: Can I import BMPs in bulk?
A: The global BMP library provides a starting set. Additional BMPs must be added individually through Settings > BMPs.