Like all maintenance and repair, street sweeping frequency and machine purchase depend on budget. However, evertightening Phase I and II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements are casting costs in a new light. The relative cost of sweeping should be the budgeting baseline.

Sweeping is highly cost-effective when compared to structural solutions like detention ponds and settling or filtering devices. In a 2000 study of best management practices conducted by Caltrans, the cost per pound of total suspended solids (TSS) removed was $10 to $60 ($14 to $83 in today’s dollars) before land costs.

On the other hand, street sweepers reduce TSS for $3 to $14 per pound, depending on type.

Next page: Why size matters

 
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