General Considerations for all Businesses

• Review your cleaning and maintenance activities to identify ways to reduce pollutants becoming exposed to stormwater runoff, and include outdoor areas like parking lots, loading docks and maintenance areas.

• Be sure that all drains used for disposal connect to the sewer system and that none drain to open areas, pavement, creeks or storm drains.

• Wash vehicles and large equipment over a wash rack that drains to the sanitary sewer, or wash off-site at a commercial car wash facility.

• Prevent any vehicle wash water from entering stormwater drains.

• Pour floor cleaning mop water into sinks and not into the parking lot, street or alley.

• Make sure that cooling towers, boilers, compressors, water softeners and other process equipment are connected to the sanitary sewer.

• When disposing of strong or toxic materials, even small amounts, do not place in the trash or pour them into storm drains or open areas such as parking lots or alleys.  Recycle as much as possible.

• Chemicals, wastes and chemical-based materials should be stored indoors or in a covered spill containment area to prevent exposure to storm water.

• Try using less-toxic alternatives to dangerous chemicals, such as biodegradable detergents.  

• Try dry-brushing dirt and contaminants off of equipment rather than washing off with water onto open areas exposed to rainfall.  Dispose of the dry material in the trash.

• When adding new driveways or walkways, consider porous surfaces such as pervious asphalt, compressed gravel or pavers that allow penetration of rainfall into the ground.

•  Design site grades to help capture contaminated stormwater into vegetated sump areas that will absorb pollutants.

• Add biofilters and vegetated swales to parking lots to absorb polluted runoff.

• Confine your outdoor washing and cleaning to a contained (e.g., bermed) area where the runoff is directed to a biofilter (grassed or landscaped area) or the sanitary sewer, not to a storm drain.

• Avoid degreasing engines or vehicle or machine parts outside the workshop or where any runoff can enter streams or storm drains.  

• Dispose of waste materials and solvents in a manner that keeps them from being exposed to rainfall.

• Replace your solvent-based degreasing machinery with aqueous washer units. These use biodegradable soap, and can cost less to operate.

• Store any contaminated parts like used oil filters in a covered and sealed area (even if they have been drained).

• Contain and store drained coolant for disposal by a professional waste contractor.

• Dumpster lids should be kept closed when not in use to keep rain out.

• Liquids in open or leaking containers should never be placed in a dumpster.

• Floors should never be hosed off so that the wash water can run outdoors or into a storm drain.

• Use dry sweeping methods as much as possible.

• Spills, leaks and other messes should be immediately cleaned with absorbent materials and properly disposed of.

• Dirty, oily, or rusty items should not be left outdoors. Consider properly disposing of these items or placing them in covered locations to prevent stormwater contact, or keep under weighted or fastened tarps.

• Sweep up outside litter and debris from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, especially around storm drains; do not hose down outside areas.

• Report any large chemical spill to the local fire department / hazardous materials team. They will know the best way to keep spills from harming the environment.

Rev. October 10, 2007