Pollution Prevention for Businesses / for Residents
One of the most common types of pollution from businesses is contaminated water
runoff, usually from cleaning and maintenance activities. Simple best management practices (BMPs)
can prevent stormwater pollution, and prevention is good business. It means clean water, clean
beaches and shows your customers you care about the community.
For more information see, municipal, industrial and construction
Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Food waste, grease, cleaning solvents, mop water and trash from restaurant
operations often make their way into the Newport Beach storm drain system, polluting local
waterways. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution and protect the environment.
Clean floor mats, filters and garbage cans in a mop sink, floor drain or proper outside
area, not the parking lot, alley, sidewalk or street. Pour washwater into a janitorial or mop sink, not outside in the parking lot, alley,
sidewalk or street. Use non-toxic cleaning products.
Recycle grease and oil, instead of pouring it into sinks, floor drains or into a
parking lot or the street. Dispose of all unwanted tactic materials like cleaning products through a
hazardous waste hauler. These items are not trash.
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 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. Sweep outside areas regularly and put the debris in the garbage, instead of sweeping
or hosing it into the parking lot or the street.
Motor oil, anti-freeze, grease and other toxic fluids from auto repair and
gas station operations often make their way into the Orange County storm drain system,and flow
untreated into local waterways. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution and
avoid fines and legal action.
Use drip pans to catch leaks when pouring and draining fluids. Prevent leaks from stored vehicles by draining gas, hydraulic oil and transmission,
brake and radiator fluids. In case of a hazardous spill, follow your hazardous materials response plan as filed
with your local fire department or other hazardous materials authority. Be sure employees are familiar with your hazardous materials response plan and are
capable of implementing it.
Keep liquid wastes segregated. Many fluids can be recycled through hazardous waste
disposal companies, as long as they are not mixed. Store hazardous materials under cover or inside, to prevent leaks and spills. Recycle motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, batteries, solvents, lubricants, tires
and metal filings from grinding and polishing metal parts. These items are not trash,
and are illegal to dump. Contact a hazardous waste hauler for proper disposal.
Use dry methods, by sweeping and using absorbent cleaning agents, to clean work areas,
instead of hosing them down. Sweep outside areas regularly and put the debris in the garbage, instead of sweeping
or hosing it into the street. 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.
Wash vehicles at a washing facility that reclaims water. If washed at your business,
use berms or sweep to keep contaminated wash water from flowing into the street. Use nontoxic detergents and cleaners.
Soil, cement wash, asphalt and oil from construction sites often make their
way into the Newport Beach storm drain system, and flow untreated into local waterways. Follow these
best management practices to prevent pollution and avoid fines and legal action.
Reduce erosion by avoiding excavation or grading activities during wet weather, and by
planting temporary vegetation on slopes where construction is not immediately planned. Use berms and diversion dikes to channel and contain runoff.
Prevent mortar and cement from entering storm drains by placing erosion controls such as
berms or temporary vegetation down-slope to capture runoff. Wash concrete mixers and equipment only in specified wash-out areas, where the water
flows into containment ponds. Cement wash water can be recycled by pumping it back into cement
mixers for reuse. Never dispose of cement washout into driveways, streets, gutters or drainage ditches.
Cover exposed piles or bags of soil, cement and other construction materials with
plastic sheeting to prevent it from blowing or washing into the storm drain system. Recycle broken asphalt, concrete, wood and cleared vegetation. Store hazardous materials under cover or inside, to prevent leaks and spills. Dispose of hazardous materials through a hazardous waste hauler or other means in
accordance with the construction permit.
- In case of a hazardous spill, follow your hazardous materials response plan as filed with
your local fire department or other hazardous materials authority.
Inspect vehicles and equipment frequently for leaks. Perform major equipment repairs and washing off site. Use gravel approaches where truck traffic is frequent to reduce soil compaction and
limit the tracking of sediment into the streets.
download our 25
page Construction Runnoff Guidance Manual.
Keeping lawns and gardens looking good isn't always good for our environment.
Sprinkler runoff carries pesticides and fertilizers into the storm drain system. Leaves, grass
clippings and yard waste get swept or blown into the street, along with sediment catch basins
and polluting waterways. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution and avoid
fines and legal action.
Recycle leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste, instead of blowing, sweeping
or hosing them into the street or gutter. Let your customers know about grasscycling. Let grass clippings drop on the lawn,
instead of using a grass catcher. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer,
returning nutrients and organic matter back to the soil, and because grass is
mostly water, it also irrigates lawns, conserving water. Reducing the need to
water as often or use toxic fertilizers means less contaminated runoff.
Prevent erosion and sediment runoff by using berms and vegetation down-slope to
capture runoff. Cover exposed piles or bags of soil, groundcover and other materials with plastic
sheeting to prevent it from blowing or washing into the storm drain system.
Spot apply pesticides, rather than blanketing entire areas. Ask you customers if they prefer nontoxic alternatives to traditional pesticides
and fertilizers. Do not put pesticides or fertilizers in the trash. Dispose of hazardous materials
through a hazardous waste hauler or take them to a household hazardous waste
collection site to be recycled.
Control the amount of water and direction of sprinklers, to avoid waste and runoff. Periodically inspect and fix leaks and misdirected sprinklers.
, click on the
link below, or call the City of Newport Beach's Water Quality Division at (949) 644-3215.
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