Street sweeping is a commonly used practice across Minnesota to provide a healthy, safe, and attractive environment for residents and visitors. While regular removal of litter and dirt from our streets and curbs is necessary to prevent storm drains from clogging and flooding, street sweeping can also be used to protect water quality by reducing leaf litter, trash, dirt, and other pollutants from entering our water resources.
Research by University of Minnesota Professor Sarah Hobbie in 2022 demonstrated that street sweeping is an effective method for reducing phosphorus in stormwater. Street sweeping equipment removes leaves and other organic debris from streets that can be a significant source of phosphorus before it gets into storm drains and then to our lakes and rivers.
The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center and Minnesota Sea Grant have partnered with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop the Clean Sweep Program which provides resources and training to communities to initiate street sweeping programs that will help them meet their water quality goals by targeting their efforts where it counts the most. The Clean Sweep project team used a series of surveys, focus groups, and case studies to help develop the Clean Sweep Education and Training Program in 2022 and the program continues to grow.
Article: A Sweeping Solution to Stormwater Pollution
Upcoming events
Lunch & Learn: Enhanced Street Sweeping 101
Thursday, May 30th | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
MPCA Building, 520 Lafayette Rd N, Saint Paul, MN 55155
NOTE: virtual option is available for those not able to attend in-person
Join the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center for Enhanced Street Sweeping 101 at the MPCA office in St Paul on May 30th. The workshop is designed to provide you with a high level overview of enhanced street sweeping and an introduction to the tools, training, and resources you will need to get started on developing or enhancing a street sweeping program for water quality in your community.
Who should attend
- Those who did not attend a 2023 Clean Sweep Workshop
- Those that are planning street sweeping programs
- Those that manage and reuse street sweeping materials
- Those who would like a better understanding of the benefits and logistics of enhanced street sweeping
- Examples: public works directors, public works staff in street sweeping programs, watershed district or WMO staff, state agency staff, etc.
Enhanced Street Sweeping 101 includes
- Why sweep more?
- Summary of direct and indirect benefits of enhanced street sweeping
- Phosphorus credits for MS4s
- How to create an effective street sweeping plan?
- Tree canopy cover mapping guidance
- Tools for estimating total solids and phosphorus removal
- Prioritizing street sweeping routes to maximize benefit
- How to sweep for water quality?
- Summary of different sweeper types
- Reuse options for street sweeping materials
- Materials management overview
- Guidance on testing sweeping materials
Registration is required for this free event. Lunch will be provided.
Limited spots available - register early.