Minnesota Stormwater Manual test page 5

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Street sweeping quiz

1. In areas with high tree canopy cover (e.g. 30% or more), which sweeping regime is likely to work best for reducing phosphorus loads?
   1. Monthly
   2. Bi-weekly
   3. Bi-weekly to monthly in summer, weekly in fall
   4. Weekly in fall
2. Which of these is not a concern with mechanical broom sweepers?
   1. They grind up organic material, thus increasing the surface area of the material, which leads to increased phosphorus loss
   2. They cannot remove material from cracks
   3. They are ineffective at capturing fine sediment
   4. They are ineffective at capturing coarse sediment
3. True or false: Street sweeping debris must be landfilled
4. If you were planning a street sweeping program for your city, which of these would be least important?
   1. Mapping areas that do not have curbs
   2. Ensuring my drivers are trained and certified
   3. Identifying watersheds with phosphorus or sediment impairments
   4. Implementing parking restrictions when streets are swept
5. True or false: For a medium to large city with mechanical broom sweepers and multiple impaired waters, it is cost effective to upgrade to regenerative air sweepers
6. True or false: Very few cities sweep in late winter or early spring because there is little water quality benefit.

Answers

1. (c)
2. (d) Read more here)
3. False. It can be reused in areas where human contact is limited (e.g. don't use in residential areas, playgrounds, athletic fields, etc.)
4. (a) While the presence or absence of curbs is important, if drivers are properly trained they will know how to sweep correctly in uncurbed areas, thus eliminating the need to map these areas
5. True Read more here
6. False. Late winter runoff contributes significant amounts of sediment, phosphorus, and salt. Winter sweeping is generally avoided for logistical reasons. Newer, regenerative sweepers can be used year-round.