Good Practices With Water Can Help Prevent Pollution

The Clean Water Act has established many regulations to protect the purity and quality of the water we drink and use in our daily lives. In addition to following the regulations, we as citizens, can institute additional good practices that will not only help protect the water but are also useful in safeguarding the environment.

Parking Lots
• Regularly sweep parking areas and open paved areas that discharge to the stormwater system.
• Consider the use of storm drain filters, which are capable of removing petroleum compounds, debris, and sediment,
• Direct stormwater to landscaped areas or specific dedicated grassy swales, which can filter stormwater before it passes into the storm drain system.
• In new lots, grade paved surfaces in such a manner that runoff water is directed into the swale.
• Install grease and sediment traps on the border of the lot or parking garage to trap runoff water before it can reach the storm drains.
• Place clearly labeled litter bins in prominent spots in the lots near parking areas and entries to shops.
• These lots should be cleaned at least once a year, or more often, depending upon usage and the amount of dirt and grime buildup.
• Follow Best Management Practices (BMPs) when doing the job and see that the storm water system is protected from pollutants.
• Enforce Best Management Practices with contractors who clean or repair the lots.

Waste Collection And Storage Areas
• The ideal situation is to store large waste containers in a covered or roofed storage area to prevent stormwater access.
• If this is not possible, the containers should be kept closed to keep out rain or snow and trash from being blown about by wind.
• Covers on waste containers should be intact and keep out stormwater.
• Waste containers should be nonabsorbent, durable, and leak proof.
• Waste containers must be easy to handle and designed for easy cleaning.
• There are low profile decks available which can be placed under large waste bins to contain drips and leaks.
• In the case of food waste, all putrescent material must be placed in a closed, sealed container before going into the waste bin.
• Solid wastes that contain food should be collected at least once a week. Some states may require that this be done more often to prevent the rot and decay which attracts flies and rodents.
• Waste collection areas and service alleys should be kept clear of loose rubbish.
• Any stormwater pits that serve these areas should be fitted with a pollution device which is capable of catching debris before it can enter the storm drain system.
• Some large loading or waste storage areas may require the installation of a stormwater diversion system which connects to the sewer. It would first contain the excess debris and then divert rain runoff to the stormwater or sanitary sewer system.

Storefront Wash Down
• Hosing down sidewalks to clear debris from the front of open air stalls, stores, shops, and restaurants should not be done without clarification of the local sanitary sewer system and their requirements.
• This wastewater may discharge directly into a stormwater system, which then discharges it, untreated, into a local lake or stream.
• Dry sweep and collect debris for disposal in the trash.
• Contractors who steam clean paved surfaces should vacuum up the used waste water into a holding tank and dispose of it properly.

Following some of these practices will go a long way toward protecting the drinking water in your community.