| Help Prevent Ocean Pollution:
Proper Maintenance Practices for Your Business
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Preventing Water Pollution at your
Commercial/Industrial Site
 A clean ocean and healthy creeks, rivers, bays and beaches are important to Orange County. However, many landscape and building maintenance activities can lead to water pollution if you’re not careful. Paint, chemicals, plant clippings and other materials can be blown or washed into storm drains that flow to the ocean. Unlike water in sanitary sewers (from sinks and toilets), water in storm drains and streets is not treated before entering our waterways.
You would never pour soap or fertilizers into
the ocean, so why would you let them enter the storm drains? Follow
the easy tips in this brochure to help prevent water pollution.
Some
types of industrial facilities are required to obtain coverage under
the State General Industrial Permit. For more information visit
www.swrcb.ca.gov/stormwtr/industrial.html.
Storm Drain Awareness and Maintenance Practices
Landscape Maintenance
- Compost grass clippings, leaves, sticks and other
vegetation, or dispose at a permitted landfill or in green waste
containers. Do not dispose of these materials in streets, waterways
or storm drains.
- Irrigate slowly and inspect the system for leaks,
overspraying and runoff. Adjust automatic timers to avoid over-watering.
- Follow
label directions for the use and disposal of fertilizers, herbicides
and
pesticides.
- Do not apply pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers
if rain is expected within 48 hours or if wind speeds are above
5 mph.
- Do not spray pesticides within 100 feet of waterways.
- Fertilizers
should be worked into the soil rather than dumped onto
the surface.
- If fertilizer is spilled on the pavement or sidewalk,
sweep
it up immediately and place it back in the container.
Building Maintenance
- Never allow wash water, sweepings or sediment to enter the storm drain.
- Sweep up dry spills and use cat litter, towels or similar materials to
absorb
wet spills. Dispose in the trash.
- If you must wash your building,
sidewalk or parking lot, you must contain the water. Collect the
water with a shop vac, and contact your city or sanitation agency
for proper
disposal information. Do not let water enter the street or storm
drains.
- Use drop cloths underneath outdoor painting, scraping,
and sandblasting
work, and properly dispose of materials in the trash.
- Use a ground
cloth or oversized tub for mixing paint and cleaning tools.
- Use
a damp mop or broom to clean floors.
- Cover dumpsters to block insects,
animals, rainwater and sand. Keep the area around the dumpster clear
of trash and debris. Do not overfill the dumpster.
- Call your trash
hauler to replace leaking dumpsters.
- Do not dump any toxic substance
or liquid waste on the pavement, the ground, or toward a storm drain.
Even materials that seem harmless—like latex paint or biodegradable
cleaners—can damage the environment.
- Recycle paints, solvents,
lumber and other materials.
- Store materials indoors or under
cover and away from storm drains.
- Use chemicals that can be recycled.
For more information about recycling and collection centers,
visit www.oclandfills.com.
- Properly label materials. Familiarize
employees with Material Safety
Data Sheets.
For more information, call the
Orange County Stormwater Program
at
(714) 567-6363 or visit www.ocwatersheds.com.
To report a spill, call the Orange County 24-Hour
Water Pollution Reporting Hotline at
(714) 567-6363.
For emergencies dial 911.
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