Non-compliance isn’t just a paperwork slip; it’s a financial, reputational, and environmental risk that can cripple projects and companies. What begins as a missed permit or overlooked inspection can escalate into fines, operational shutdowns, and lasting damage to your brand. CWES exists to make sure that never happens, turning complex stormwater compliance into a simple, manageable part of your operations.
“For a single project, you may end up on the low end with a $100,000 fine.” That’s not a hypothetical; it’s a very real fact shared by our Chief Information Officer, Josh Downey. For national construction companies, the stakes rise exponentially: “If you have 200 projects nationwide, you could easily be looking at a fine of $100M.” These numbers can wipe out profits and jeopardize future growth.
Ways to reduce your risk of fines:
By leveraging CWES’s integrated network of services, you avoid financial shocks and gain peace of mind knowing every permit, inspection, and report is in good standing. You also avoid enforcement action through the proper selection and installation of control measures.
Regulators rarely stop at a single fine. Violations often result in a negotiated consent order that requires significant operational changes. These changes may require you to update your operations and subject you to greater scrutiny going forward.
Consider the full picture:
When you factor in the expense of new systems, staff training, and ongoing oversight, the true cost often translates to millions in losses — far beyond the original penalty.
CWES makes it manageable:
Before formal enforcement even begins, jurisdictions can issue stop-work orders. These can be worse than a fine, halting construction, delaying product delivery, and creating astronomical costs to the company’s bottom line.
A stop-work order can lead to:
CWES helps you prevent these costly interruptions:
With the right partners in place, you keep projects on schedule and avoid the financial drain of unexpected shutdowns.
Regulatory penalties are only part of the story. When a company is cited for non-compliance, credibility suffers — sometimes permanently. CWES helps you safeguard your reputation so you remain a trusted partner for investors, clients, and the communities you serve.
Shareholders expect strong risk management. A public enforcement action can spark immediate concern, lowering confidence and even affecting market value. Even if operations eventually recover, the trust of investors can take years to rebuild.
No company sets out to be non-compliant, but when enforcement occurs, the public makes assumptions. Negative press and social media backlash can erode consumer trust and future opportunities.
To protect your public image:
CWES ensures clients don’t unwittingly end up on the wrong side of compliance, protecting the brand and preserving hard-earned credibility.
Compliance isn’t only about avoiding penalties — it’s about protecting the waterways and communities we all depend on. CWES helps clients meet legal obligations while taking pride in being responsible stewards of the environment.
Downey reminds us, “No matter who you are, we all appreciate clean water. Our kids, our pets, and our families all rely on CWES to keep our nation’s waterways swimmable and fishable.” These are the very standards companies are legally bound to uphold — and for good reason.
By being good stewards and helping to shoulder the burden of compliance with our customers and clients, we ensure that we can continue to build America’s future indefinitely.
With CWES’s network of experts and technologies, you can:
We’re here to help you do your part in responsible development and keep the costs of non-compliance from stacking up. Contact CWES today.
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