The Silent Jobsite Killer: How Sediment Runoff Can Stall Your Project (and Cost You Thousands)

I’ve been completing CEPSCI inspections in South Carolina since 2016, and over the past decade, I’ve seen first-hand how small issues on construction sites can snowball into big problems, sometimes long after a project is “finished.”

I remember my very first inspection. I had just taken the class, past the test, and my CEPSCI card came in the mail. Within days of receiving that CEPSCI card, I was at a pre-construction meeting for a project. Since then, I’ve worked on storage units, medical offices, schools, retail centers, water supply lines. And through every site, one lesson has been crystal clear: sediment and erosion issues are often overlooked until they turn into major headaches.

Take, for example, a recent multi-building site. The superintendent had been walking the site daily, and familiarity dulled his awareness. During my inspection, I noticed a subcontractor had piled supplies on top of a silt fence, compromising a culvert under the road. The problem had gone on for days, and a recent rain event caused offsite impact. Had the problem gone unnoticed during the next rain event, sediment could have clogged the culvert and and gotten on the roadway. Because we caught it early enough, repairs were completed quickly, avoiding a costly problem and keeping the project on schedule.

This is the value of weekly CEPSCI inspections: a fresh set of eyes. Superintendents are on-site all day, every day. To be honest, they become too familiar with the site to see every detail. I’ve seen experienced GCs initially resist my presence, thinking I’m there to “look over their shoulder.” But very quickly, they recognize that my inspections aren’t about creating extra work. Instead, they’re about preventing risk, maintaining compliance, and saving time. I’ve had superintendents go from seeing me as a problem to asking for my advice on complex stormwater issues because they trust that my guidance helps them avoid headaches, fines, and even stop-work orders.

Another project highlights this perfectly. A GC faced a potential stop-work order after a stormwater pond dig-out went wrong during heavy rains. I was able to intervene, provide a punch list of corrective actions, and facilitate communication between the GC and the local regulator. The stop-work order was avoided, and the project continued safely and on schedule.

What I want GCs to understand is simple: erosion and sediment issues aren’t just about passing inspections today. They actually have long-term effects. Soil and water conservation continues well after a project is closed out. Ponds need proper maintenance, junction boxes and catch basins trap sediment as designed and eventually need cleaning or repair. And minor oversights during construction can turn into costly problems decades later.

At the end of the day, what CEPSCI brings to every site is peace of mind. My inspections give GCs confidence that the site is compliant, risks are managed, and the long-term health of the watershed is being considered. That’s a value that lasts far beyond any project.