|
Documents
Clean Water, by Best Management Practices
You can control pollutant discharges by implementing these BMPs. The objective is to keep pollutants out of the storm drain system. The general ways of accomplishing this objective are to:
º keep pollutants from contacting rain;
º keep wash water out of the storm drain;
º eliminate all illicit connections;
º and never dump pollutants into the storm drain system.
A good maxim is "only rain in the storm drain."
| Activities |
Best Management Practices |
Equipment Cleaning
(dumpsters, floor mats, exhaust filters, etc.) |
- Collect washwater in a designated area. Recycle washwater, or discharge to the sanitary sewer.*
- Dispose of cleaning wastes properly.**
|
Pavement Cleaning |
- Sweep parking lots and other paved areas, and pick up litter and debris regularly. Dispose of non-hazardous wastes in the garbage.**
- For outdoor pavement washing without detergent, sweep and spot clean, as needed, first. If pavement is very dirty, prevent silt and debris from entering the storm drain by filtering the water with sandbags or other filters. If spot cleaning with detergent is required, clean the area with a mop and bucket and dispose of the washwater into a toilet or a sink. Do not wash detergents or solvents into the storm drain.
- If washing all outdoor pavement with detergent is required, block off all storm drain inlets, collect water, and discharge to the sanitary sewer.*
|
Spill Cleanup in Outdoor Areas |
- Avoid spills by handling materials carefully.
- Supply cleanup kits in well-marked accessible locations.
- Clean up any spills immediately using rags, cat litter, or any other type of absorbent or adsorbent in your spill kit. Dispose of used sorbents properly.
- If mopping up a spill, dispose of washwater in indoor sinks for discharge to the sanitary sewer.
|
Cooking Grease
Handling and Disposal |
- Store used cooking grease in separate, covered containers. Generally, grease should be picked up by a licensed tallow pickup service. Grease must not be disposed of in garbage dumpsters, the sanitary sewer, or the storm drain system.
|
Waste Disposal |
- Inspect dumpsters periodically and keep lids closed. Have the leasing company repair or replace leaky dumpsters.
- Inspect compactors regularly. Immediately replace any leaky compactor seals or gaskets.
- Cover dumpsters and other waste containers to prevent rain water from entering the container.
- Never dispose of waste products to a storm drain inlet. Dispose of all unused paints, pesticides, cleaners, and other hazardous products and their containers as hazardous waste.
- Practice source reduction to minimize hazardous waste. Do not order more materials than can be used within the shelf life of the product.
|
Litter Control |
- Provide sufficient trash receptacles for your customers and employees.
- Pick up litter and other wastes daily from outside areas including storm drain inlet grates.
|
Process/Equipment
Areas Management |
- Identify all areas with outdoor equipment and storage of raw or waste materials that are exposed to storm water and have potential to discharge pollutants to the storm drain
system. Move work process areas, equipment, and transfer stations inside a building or
under a roof when possible.
- Frequently inspect equipment and vehicles for leaks. Practice preventive maintenance.
- Contain leaks by using drip trays and splash guards around and under leaking vehicles and
process equipment.
- Identify where each drain connects to (the sanitary sewer or storm drain). Eliminate illicit connections to the storm drain system.
|
Storage |
- Store materials such as grease, paints, detergents, metals, and raw materials in appropriate, labeled containers.
- Store stock-piled materials and equipment inside a building or "doghouse," under a roof, or covered with a tarp to prevent contact with rain. Contact the City Fire Prevention Bureau at 238-3851 and the City Department of Planning and Building at 238-3443 for specific requirements for storage sheds and to obtain any required permits.
- Store liquids that can spill into the storm drain system within secondary containment areas.
|
Landscaping |
- Keep use of pesticides and fertilizers to a minimum, and do not apply in wet weather.
- Stencil inlets to discourage illegal dumping.
|
Training |
- Train and assign responsibility to specific employees on BMPs, good housekeeping practices, and what to do in the event of a spill.
- Inform your customers of the proper methods for disposing of fluids and wastes on your property.
|
Some facilities will require more detailed BMPs and structural controls to keep pollutant discharges from storm drains. Contact your local storm water representative at 238-6600 for more information on structural BMPs.
* The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the City of Oakland regulate discharges to the sanitary sewer system. EBMUD may require waste characterization and pre-treatment or prohibit discharge of particular substances. Contact EBMUD at 287-1651 for information on disposal restrictions, pretreatment requirements and permits. Contact the City of Oakland Office of Planning and Building Engineering Information Division at 238-4777 for sanitary sewer connection permit requirements. Outdoor sanitary sewer drains such as for a washpad generally require an oil/water separator and a roof which may also require a plumbing and building permit (Contact the Building Department at 238-3443 for plumbing and building permit requirements).
** Hazardous Materials must comply with hazardous materials storage and hazardous waste disposal requirements. Contact the City of Oakland Office of Emergency Services at 238-3938 for information and permits for hazardous materials storage. Contact Alameda County Environmental Health at 567-6700 for information and permits for hazardous waste disposal
|
