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 storm water pollution, and prevention is good business. It means clean water, clean neighborhoods and it shows your customers that you care about your community. For more information on municipal, industrial and construction National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits contact the Storm Water Program at (909)387-8109 or by email at StormWaterInfo@dpw.sbcounty.gov.

FOOD & RESTAURANTS	AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES	CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT	LANDSCAPE & MAINTENANCE	TOP
CARPET CLEANING	MOBILE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE	GEN. INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING	REGULATORY INFORMATION

Food & Restaurants:

Food waste, grease, cleaning fluids, mop water and trash from restaurant operations often make their way into the San Bernardino County storm drain system, and do not get treated before reaching the Santa Ana River. This pollutes our drinking water and contaminates waterways, making them unsafe for people and wildlife. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution, protect public health and avoid fines or legal action.

• Cleaning & Maintenance: Clean equipment, floor mats, filters and garbage cans in a mop sink, wash rack or floor drain connected to the sewer through a grease trap. Don't wash them or pour wash water in a parking lot, alley, sidewalk or street. Sweep outside areas and put the debris in the garbage, instead of sweeping or hosing it into the parking lot or street.
• Recycle oil & grease: Oil and grease wastes can be recycled. Look in the yellow pages for rendering companies, or call (909) 386-8401 for disposal information. Don't pour oil or grease into sinks, floor drains or onto a parking lot or street. Keep grease bins covered and contained.
• Dumpster areas: 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 are damaged or leak. Do not wash down or steam clean trash enclosure area or trash bin unless you collect the water and dispose of it into the sanitary sewer. Hire a mobile pressure wash business that is familiar with the storm water regulations to clean these areas and make sure they provide you with a record of proper wastewater disposal.
• Managing spills: Use dry methods for spill cleanup, 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 (800) 33-TOXIC.
• Handling toxic chemicals: Dispose of all unwanted toxics materials like cleaners, solvents and detergents through a hazardous waste hauler. These items are not trash. Use non-toxic cleaning products whenever possible. For information on hazardous waste pickup, call (909) 386-8401.
  

Automotive services

Oil, grease, anti-freeze and other toxic automotive fluids often make their way into the San Bernardino County storm drain system, and do not get treated before reaching the Santa Ana River. This pollutes our drinking water and contaminates waterways, making them unsafe for people and wildlife. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution, protect public health and avoid fines or legal action.

• Storing Hazardous Waste: Keep your liquid waste segregated. Many fluids can be recycled via hazardous waste disposal companies if they are not mixed. Store all materials under cover with spill containment or inside to prevent contamination of rainwater runoff.
• Proper Disposal of Hazardous Waste: Recycle used motor oil and oil filters, anti-freeze and other hazardous automotive fluids, batteries, tires and metal filings collected from grinding/polishing auto parts. Contact a licensed hazardous waste hauler. For more recycling information, call (909) 386-8401.
• Cleaning Auto Parts: Scrape parts with a wire brush or use a bake oven rather than liquid cleaners. Arrange drip pans, drying racks and drain boards so that fluids are directed back into the sink or the fluid holding tank. Do not wash parts or equipment in a parking lot, driveway or street.
• Preventing Leaks and Spills: Place drip pans underneath to capture fluids. Use absorbent cleaning agents instead of water to clean work areas.
• Metal Grinding & Polishing: Keep a bin under your lathe or grinder to capture metal filings. Send uncontaminated filings to a scrap metal recycler for reclamation. Store metal filings in a covered container or indoors.
• Cleaning Spills: Follow your hazardous materials response plan, as filed with your local fire department or other hazardous materials authority. Be sure that all employees are aware of the plan and are capable of implementing each phase of the plan. Use dry methods for spill cleanup (sweeping, absorbent materials, etc.). To report serious spills, call 911.
• Washing vehicles: Wash vehicles where the wash water can soak into grass, gravel or be diverted to nearby landscaping, away from the street and storm drains. Wash vehicles at a designated wash rack that is connected to the sanitary sewer or take vehicles to a professional car wash. Use soaps, cleaners and detergents that are labeled phosphate free or biodegradable. The safest products for the environment are vegetable based or citrus-based soaps.

Construction & development:

Soil, cement wash, asphalt, oil and other hazardous debris from construction sites often make their way into the San Bernardino County storm drain system, and flow untreated into local waterways. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution, protect public health and avoid fines or legal action.

• Store Materials Safely: Keep construction materials and debris away from the street, gutter and storm drains. Cover exposed stockpiles of soil, sand or gravel and excavated material with plastic sheeting, protected from rain, wind and runoff.
• Preventing Erosion: Avoid excavation or grading during wet weather. Plant temporary vegetation or add hydro mulch on slopes where construction is not immediately planned, and permanent vegetation once excavation and grading are complete. Construct diversion dikes to channel runoff to a detention basin and around the construction site. Use gravel approaches where truck traffic is frequent to reduce soil compaction and limit the tracking of sediment into the streets. For more information on erosion control, call (909) 799-7407.
• Cleaning & Preventing Spills: Use a drip pan and funnel when draining or pouring fluids. Sweep up dry spills, instead of hosing. Be ready for spills by preparing and using spill containment and cleanup kits that include safety equipment and dry cleanup materials such as kitty litter or sawdust. To report serious spills, call 911.
• Maintaining Vehicles & Equipment: Maintain and refuel vehicles and equipment at a single location on-site, away from the street, gutter and storm drains. Perform major equipment repairs and washings off-site. Inspect vehicles and equipment frequently for leaks, and prevent leaks from stored vehicles by draining gas, hydraulic oil, transmission, and brake and radiator fluids.
• Ordering Materials & Recycling Waste: Reduce waste by ordering only the amounts of materials needed for the job. Use recycled or recyclable materials whenever possible. You can recycle broken asphalt, concrete, wood, and cleared vegetation. Dispose of hazardous materials through a hazardous waste hauler or other means in accordance with the construction permit. Non-recyclable materials should be taken to a landfill or disposed of as hazardous waste. For recycling and disposal information, call (909) 386-8401.
• Concrete and mortar application: Never dispose of cement washout into driveways, streets, gutters or drainage ditches. Wash concrete mixers and equipment only in specified washout areas, where the water flows into lined containment ponds. Cement wash water can be recycled by pumping it back into cement mixers for reuse.

Commercial landscape maintenance:

Yard waste, sediments and toxic lawn and garden chemicals used in commercial landscape maintenance often make their way into the San Bernardino County storm drain system and do not get treated before reaching the Santa Ana River. This pollutes our drinking water and contaminates local waterways, making them unsafe for people and wildlife. Follow these best management practices to prevent pollution, protect public health and avoid fines or legal action.

• Recycle Yard Waste: Recycle leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste. Do not blow, sweep, rake or hose yard waste into the street. Let your customers know about grass cycling --the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing instead of using a grass catcher. Grass clippings will quickly decompose, returning valuable nutrients to the soil. You can get more information at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics.
• Use Fertilizers, Herbicides & Pesticides Safely: Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are often carried into the storm drain system by sprinkler runoff. Use natural, non-toxic alternatives to traditional garden chemicals. If you must use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides spot apply rather than blanketing entire areas, avoid applying near curbs and driveways and never apply before a rain.
• Recycle Hazardous Waste: Pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and motor oil contaminate landfills and should be disposed of through a Hazardous Waste Facility. For information on proper disposal, call (909) 386-8401.
• Use Water Wisely: Conserve water and prevent runoff by controlling the amount of water and direction of sprinklers. Sprinklers should be on long enough to allow water to soak into the ground but not so long as to cause runoff. Periodically inspect, fix leaks and realign sprinkler heads.
• Planting: Plant native vegetation to reduce the need of water, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
• Prevent Erosion: Erosion washes sediments, debris and toxic runoff into the storm drain system, polluting waterways. Prevent erosion and sediment runoff by using ground cover, berms and vegetation down-slope to capture runoff. Avoid excavation or grading during wet weather.
• Store Materials Safely: Keep landscaping materials and debris away from the street, gutter and storm drains. On-site stockpiles of materials should be covered with plastic sheeting to protect from rain, wind and runoff.

Carpet cleaning:

Toxic chemicals and discharged waste water from carpet, drapery, furniture and window cleaning often make their way into the San Bernardino County storm drain system and do not get treated before reaching the Santa Ana River. This pollutes our drinking water and contaminates local waterways, making them unsafe for people and wildlife. Following these best management practices will prevent pollution, comply with regulations and protect public health.

These guidelines apply even if the cleaning products are labeled “nontoxic” or “biodegradable”. Although these products may be less harmful to the environment, they can still have harmful effects if they enter the storm drain untreated.

• Dispose of wastewater properly: Wastewater from cleaning equipment must be discharged into a sink, toilet, or other drain connected to the sanitary sewer system within sanitary sewer discharge limits, or hauled off and disposed of properly. Wastewater should never be discharged into a street, gutter, parking lot or storm drain.
• Filter wastewater: Carpet cleaning wastewater should be filtered before discharging it to the sanitary sewer since fibers and other debris in the wastewater can clog pipes. The filtered material can be disposed of in the garbage, as long as the waste is not contaminated with hazardous pollutants.

Mobile vehicle maintenance

Wash in a designated area that has been bermed up to contain the wash water.

Common water control devices are: recycling systems; pretreatment or sewer discharge systems; limited recycling systems; wash pits(portable vinyl wash pads), vacuum sludge filtering systems; wet-dry vacuums, sump pumps; drain covers; portable dams; vacu-brooms; oil absorbent pads, booms, pillows, and tubes; plastic sheeting; filter tubs; buckets; pans; and squeegees.

When cleaning engines using chemical additives like soaps, solvents or degreasers, the cleaning must be performed at a facility that has the equipment to properly process the contaminated wastewater runoff, or using a leak-proof ground cover device that will catch and contain all contaminated wastewater runoff for later disposal in a manner that complies with city, county, state and federal codes.

Wastewater from cleaning equipment must be discharged into a sink, toilet, or other drain connected to the sanitary sewer

General industrial & manufacturing businesses:

If you own, manage or help operate a business, especially an industrial or manufacturing company, you can help reduce storm water pollution. From environmentally friendly cleaning and maintenance activities, to recycling hazardous waste materials, businesses can do a lot to prevent storm water pollution.

• Review your cleaning and maintenance activities to look for ways to reduce runoff into the storm drain system, especially in outdoor areas like parking lots, loading docks and maintenance yards. Keep trash enclosure swept and trash bin lids closed.
• Train employees to wash vehicles and equipment indoors in a wash rack that is connected to the sanitary sewer or off-site at a commercial wash facility. Train janitorial staff to dispose of floor cleaning water in the sewer and not into the parking lot. Make sure that cooling towers, boilers, compressors, water softeners and other process equipment are connected to the sanitary sewer and do not discharge wastewater into the parking lot.
• If you use hazardous materials in your everyday business, like ink and solvents for commercial printing, or polishes and chemicals for car detailing or manufacturing after-market accessories, do not put these hazardous materials in the trash or pour them into the gutter. Take them to be recycled safely. Store chemicals, wastes, raw materials and contaminated equipment indoors or in a covered, spill contained area, to prevent exposure of these materials to storm water. For information on proper hazardous waste disposal, call (909)386-8401.
• Take advantage of less-toxic alternatives to dangerous chemicals. From detergents to drain openers, there are a lot of ways to get the same or better result without having to rely toxic substances.
• Looking for raw materials? San Bernardino County Materials Exchange Program, or SBCoMax is a partnership between the County and the California Integrated Waste Management Board, for businesses to provide used but usable materials to those interested in obtaining them. The program helps divert used materials from landfills, saves resources and can save you money.

Regulatory information

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters from a point source unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The 1987 passage of the Water Quality Act established NPDES permit requirements for discharges of storm water. The NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.

Industrial facilities and construction sites are regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and State Water Resources Control Board, through general storm water permits. Most industrial, manufacturing or transportation businesses that store materials, products or equipment outdoors, or conduct vehicle washing or process operations outdoors are required to obtain coverage under the State Water Resources Control Board’s General Industrial Activities Stormwater Permit. For more information about this permit, visit www.swrcb.ca.gov/stormwtr/industrial.html or contact your local storm water coordinator.

If your business conducts construction activities, including clearing, grading, stockpiling or excavation that results in soil disturbances of at least one acre, you are subject to the State Water Resources Control Board’s General Construction Activities Stormwater Permit. To find out more about this storm water permit for construction, visit: www.swrcb.ca.gov/stormwtr/construction.html.

Cities and counties are regulated through permits issued by the Regional Boards. Since 1990, operators of large storm drain systems such as San Bernardino County’s have been required to:

• Develop a storm water management program designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being dumped or washed by storm water runoff, into the storm water system, then discharged into local water bodies; and
• Obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The NPDES permit programs in California are administered by the State Water Resources Control Board and by nine regional boards that issue NPDES permits and enforce regulations within their respective region.

San Bernardino County lies within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Region. This regional board issues a permit to the San Bernardino County Permittees, which includes the County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County Flood Control District and incorporated cities of San Bernardino County. Since the program’s inception, the County of San Bernardino has served as the principal permittee.

Documents & reports:

The following documents describe the regulations and programs for water quality in San Bernardino County. You can review the latest Basin Plan, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and Drainage Area Management Plan (DAMP).

• Basin Plans: The document for each region of the State Water Quality Board’s jurisdiction, including Santa Ana, is the Water Quality Control Plan, commonly referred to as the Basin Plan. It is the foundation for the regulatory programs of each regional board. The Basin Plan documents the beneficial uses of the region's ground and surface waters, existing water quality conditions, problems, and goals, and actions by the regional board and others that are necessary to achieve and maintain water quality standards.

Water Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

• Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits: The permits of each region outline additional steps for a storm water management program and specify requirements to help protect the beneficial uses of the receiving waters. They require permittees to develop and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control/reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable (MEP).

  Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board Municipal NPDES Permit Order No. R8-2002-0012

• Report of Waste Discharge: The Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) describes the San Bernardino Stormwater Program, implemented by the County and cities to comply with their jointly held stormwater permit. It is the principle policy and guidance document for the NPDES Stormwater Program.

  Report of Waste Discharge 2000

• San Bernardino County Storm Water Program Annual Status Report: The Annual Status Report is a requirement of the NPDES permit for submittal to the Regional Boards and United States Environmental Protection Agency. The report presents an analysis and assessment of permit compliance activities.

Annual report - will be posted soon

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call the San Bernardino County Storm Water Program
at (909) 387-8109
Email address: StormWaterInfo@dpw.sbcounty.gov

Web site maintained by S. Groner Associates, Inc.

Email any problems or questions to sjurado@sga-inc.net

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