Protect water quality at work
One of the most common types of pollution from businesses is contaminated runoff, usually from cleaning and maintenance activities. Simple practices can prevent water pollution, and prevention is good business: clean water and clean streams shows your customers you care about the community.

Use your drains. Clean floormats, filters and garbage cans in a mop sink, floor drain or proper outside area, not the parking lot, alley, sidewalk or street.

Reduce hazards. Use nontoxic cleaning products and recycle grease and oil, instead of pouring it into sinks, floor drains or into a parking lot or the street.

Dry cleaning is best. Use dry methods for spill cleanup, by sweeping and using cat litter instead of hosing. Have spill containment and cleanup kits available for possible spills on your property. To report serious toxic spills, call 911.

Keep trash thrown away. Keep dumpster lids closed and the areas around them clean. Do not fill with liquid waste or hose them out. Call your trash hauler to replace any dumpsters that leak.

Build a rain garden. Located in areas of your yard where water collects, rain gardens increase infiltration through the deep roots of native plants, creating a low-maintenance, high-function garden. Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean. Remove debris and residue that could end up in a storm drain from concrete and paved areas, including grass clippings, leaves, dirt and chemicals.

Prevent leaks. Use drip pans to catch leaks when pouring and draining fluids such as gas, hydraulic oil and transmission, brake and radiator fluids.

Follow safety guidelines. Be sure employees are familiar with your hazardous materials response plan and are capable of implementing it. Store hazardous materials under cover or inside and keep liquid wastes segregated. Many fluids can be recycled as long as they are not mixed.

Recycle used oil. Never place used motor oil in the trash or pour down storm drains. Recycle used oil at a used oil collection facility.

Wash vehicles the right way. Either wash your vehicles at a car wash that filters the wastewater or in a grassy area. Avoid washing on a driveway, parking lot or in the street.

Recycle leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste. Don’t blow, sweep or hose them into the street or gutter.

Prevent erosion. Use berms and vegetation down slope to capture runoff from exposed ground. Cover piles of soil, groundcover and other materials with plastic sheeting to prevent it from blowing or washing into storm drains. Spot-apply pesticides. Blanketing entire areas can result in overapplication. Check your system. Control the amount of water and direction of sprinklers, to avoid waste and runoff. Periodically inspect and fix leaks and misdirected sprinklers.

Go green. If you’re thinking of being more efficient or planning a remodel, consider LEED certification, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The United States Green Building Council created LEED as a rating system for green building practices that design, construct and operate buildings in an environmentally friendly way.

Report a problem. Let us know if you see something that isn’t good for water quality.