Water Pollution Best Practices

At commercial sites, chemical spills that contain toxic substances and uncovered or unprotected outdoor storage or waste areas can contribute pollutants to storm water runoff. Trash and litter from parking lots and dumpster areas also have the potential to wash into the storm drain system. Best management practices include:

• Detergents, oils, and greases. Don’t wash off detergents, oils, and greases into streets, parking lots, or storm drains.
• Cover fuel islands. Divert rainfall runoff from fueling islands by building a canopy or cover over them.
• Seal hazardous liquids. Any barrels containing potentially hazardous liquids should be in a sealed container, stored inside a building or under cover, and propped up on pallets with secondary containment in case of a spill.
• Discharge waste and processed water. Waste and processed water of any type must be discharged to the sanitary sewer. Discharge of waste water to the ground or storm drains is prohibited.
• Know spill cleanup procedures. Be sure to know spill cleanup procedures. Have cleanup materials nearby with a spill prevention plan known by all employees.
• Waste storage must be under cover. Waste storage for used oils, solvents and other hazardous fluids must be under cover with secondary containment in case of a spill and to prevent rainfall from washing hazardous fluids into nearby storm drains.
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers for lawn care. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these potential pollutants while minimizing the amount of product required. Sweep or blow remaining products off the street and sidewalks back onto the lawn. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility.
• Salt or other de-icing materials. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these products while minimizing the amount of product required. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.
• Impervious surfaces and dumpsters. Regular sweeping of impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. Regular inspections of dumpster and dumpster enclosures to clean up loose trash and replacement of leaking or damaged trash receptacles.
• Construct low impact development structures. Construct on-site infiltration structures that divert storm water runoff from the storm drain system. These structures have the ability to slow the flow of runoff, spread the runoff out, and allow the runoff to soak into the ground after it travels through one or more filtration techniques rather than immediately discharged to Draper City’s storm drain system. These are also known as “Low Impact Development” structures (LID).

Waste from chemicals and materials used in construction and industrial sites can wash into storm drains during rainy weather. Soil that erodes from construction and industrial sites can contribute to environmental degradation. Listed below are best practices to help reduce storm water pollution.

Each Draper resident can do their part to reduce their contribution to residential storm water. Here are best practices for storm water management as a resident:

• Vehicle fluids are the number one problem. Vehicle fluids such as oil, gas and antifreeze are the #1 surface water quality problems. Recycle used oil in a clean, sealed, plastic container. Catch any leaking automotive fluids under vehicles.
• Clean up after your pet. Pet waste left on the ground gets carried away by storm water, contributing harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses to our river.
• Sweep or blow rather than use a hose. Hosing off pavements washes pollutants into storm drains. Sweeping or blowing is preferred.
• Don’t wash vehicles on driveways or hard surfaces. Wash vehicles on grass, vegetated area, or a specified car washing facility to prevent these pollutants from being discharged into the storm drain system.
• Use hazardous waste drop-off facilities. Deliver old paint, pesticides, solvents and batteries to any of the available hazardous waste drop-off facilities.
• Use yard waste as fertilizer. Yard waste such as grass clippings, tree trimmings and leaves can be composted and used for fertilizer around the yard.
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used for lawn care. Following manufacturer’s recommendations will maximize the effectiveness of products while minimizing the amount of product required. Sweep or blow remaining products off the street and sidewalks back onto the lawn. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.
• Chlorinated water from swimming pools. Drain all pool water into the sanitary sewer system to prevent these chemicals from entering into the storm drain system.
• Wastewater discharge to sanitary sewer. Waste and processed water of any type must be discharged to the sanitary sewer. Discharge of wastewater to the ground or storm drains is prohibited.
• Salt or other de-icing materials. Following manufacturer’s recommendations maximizes the effectiveness of these products while minimizing the amount of product required. Keep products in a sealed container in a covered storage facility to prevent these products from being in contact with rain and snow.