The Importance of Street Sweeping in HOAs
Maintaining a clean parking facility isn't just be a good idea. It should be a requirement.
Street sweeping in homeowners associations or condos is not just for aesthetic reasons. It's also good for the environment. While litter can cause many environmental problems, it can also drive consumers out of a neighborhood. Empty bottles, paper bags, cigarette butts, and overflowing trash bins can drive consumers' decisions.
Street Sweeping Prevents Pollution
While aesthetics are essential, parking lot sweeping is a necessity to maintain a healthy environment. The primary resources where pollution goes is in the air and water, which can significantly affect the HOA or COA.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists street sweeping as one of the best management practices to preventing water pollution.
Municipalities consider street sweeping one of the most economical ways to cut down the number of sediments, trash, bacteria, and vegetation. These items tend to build up on streets and parking lots and eventually run off into water systems. Keeping storm drains and catch basins clean also reduces the chances of street flooding during heavy rainstorms.
According to an EPA report, air pollution is the leading cause of airborne dust from roads, construction sites, or parking lots activity.
Street Sweeping Regulations to Maintain Safety
Environmental regulations require more specific efforts to eliminate contamination. Sources such as streams, lakes, and air are attracted to fugitive dust—a term used to describe microscopic, dust-like particles that linger in the air.
Sweeping contractors must maintain maximum particle matter emissions of less than 10 micrometers (smaller than one-tenth of the human hair diameter). PM10 is the standard for sweeping and material removal to ensure low pollution levels.
According to the EPA, exposure to high particulate matter concentrations, including airborne dust, affects breathing, aggravates existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and can cause lung damage and certain types of cancer.
Moving cars can stir the fugitive dust into the air. Therefore, the EPA's fugitive dust control measures require the prompt removal of dirt tracked by vehicles onto paved surfaces. These measures help prevent particulates from being ground up and airborne.
Street sweeping parking lots keep your property compliant with local, state, and federal environmental regulations. Minimizing air and water pollutants helps you avoid costly fines associated with non-compliance. At the same time, you are making a commitment to the environment with regularly scheduled parking lot sweeper service.
Safeguarding Investments
The asphalt and concrete surfaces in parking lots or garages are a significant investment, making sense to maintain them by sweeping regularly. Sweeping removes abrasive dirt, sand, and other debris that diminishes the life of your parking area's pavement, striping, and seal coating. The cost of repaving a parking lot or repairing a parking deck often far exceeds the price of a regular sweeping schedule.
Regularly scheduled sweeping also safeguards against any water that might pool in cracks or holes in the pavement, causing the asphalt to deteriorate or causing someone to trip and fall. Street sweeping parking lots also reduce the need for extensive interior floor maintenance by minimizing the amounts of dirt and particulates tracked inside.
Finding the Right Contractor
Do your research and seek out sweeping contractors that have experience. Any reliable sweeping contractor, for example, is PM10-certified. Contractors affiliated with sweeping associations like 1-800-SWEEPER or the North American Power Sweeping Association take their employees' training seriously. They have safety programs in place to ensure their contractors provide a high quality of service.
Also, look at the equipment: Is it new, or is it old and rusted? Companies that invest in their equipment are more than likely investing in their employees, who will perform the job more efficiently.
Sweeping might look like a significant expense upfront. In the long run, it will extend the life of your pavement, give you great curb appeal, and aid in helping the environment.
Contact Us
Have questions concerning street sweeping in your HOA or COA. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
