KNOW WHAT'S HARMFUL TO CREEKS AND DISPOSE OF WASTES PROPERLY  Operate your business responsibly to eliminate discharges into storm drains. Never store waste materials in the street or near the creek.

 

Food service businesses produce pollutants such as oil, grease, detergents, and food scraps. Grease and oil discharged into storm drains can enter the creek and decrease the oxygen content of the water, coat fish gills, and smother bottom dwelling organisms. Food scraps can cause excessive nutrient loading in the creek, which uses up oxygen needed by fish and other organisms.

Fats, oils, grease, and food particles should be placed in sealed containers and recycled. Most municipalities and garbage companies prohibit disposal of oil and grease in the garbage.

When you reuse and recycle fluids and other products, they never become wastes. Purchase reusable or recyclable materials whenever you can. If your business routinely uses chemicals or cleaning compounds, consider "closed loop" processes that recycle these materials.

Open or leaking dumpsters are common causes of water pollution. Close dumpster lids, place dumpsters under roofs, or cover them with plastic sheeting at the end of each work day and during rainy weather. Inspect dumpsters regularly for leaks, and repair or replace any dumpster that is not water-tight. Return dumpsters to trash haulers for cleaning. Do not hose them down or clean them on site.

Use rags for small spills, a damp mop for general cleanup, and absorbent materials (such as cat litter) for larger spills. Clean up spills immediately. Avoid hosing or wet-mopping outdoor work areas. Dispose of clean-up materials properly. Do not dump them outside or in the creek. When cleaning inside, collect mop water and discharge into a sink or toilet.

Use creek-friendly washing methods for vehicles and equipment.

Do not wash cars, trucks, or other equipment in a paved parking lot or street where soap and wash water can flow into the creek or storm drain. Install a "wash pad" to capture, pretreat and discharge the wash water to the sanitary sewer or consider using a commercial car wash.

Install a "wash pad" to capture, pretreat and discharge the wash water to the sanitary sewer or consider using a commercial car wash.

Keep pollutants off exposed surfaces.

Place trash cans around your business site to minimize litter. Dispose of wastes appropriately in covered dumpsters or recycling receptacles.

Control parking lot and site drainage.

Strategic grading of parking lots and other outdoor spaces can prevent runoff from contacting potentially contaminated areas and reaching creeks and sensitive areas. When building or grading parking areas, consider installation of oil-water separators equipment in catch basins. Clean parking lots regularly using street sweepers and dry clean up methods.

Check rain gutters and other pipes to see where they drain. Make sure they do not carry water directly into the creek.

Runoff from roof surfaces contributes to the decline of creek health. Pipes projecting directly into a creek bank or flexible pipes allowed to drape down a bank cause erosion. Consider using cisterns, on-site filtration or gray water systems to capture roof runoff.

Train employees and keep customers informed.

If employees misunderstand how to handle waste, costly pollution incidents can occur. Make sure that all your employees understand and implement appropriate practices. Educate your customers, as well, and prevent them from disposing of wastes improperly on your site.

Carefully remove trash, litter, and other dumped debris from the creek.

Unfortunately, some people think of creeks as garbage dumps. You don't have to look far to find old shopping carts, used appliances, mattresses, car parts, bottles, cans, plastic, styrofoam and paper litter. This debris can become a hazard during floods. It can also be a potential threat to our groundwater quality and provide breeding places for rodents and mosquitoes. Styrofoam packing material is especially harmful to wildlife because it can be mistaken for food.

Remove old tires, garbage, and litter from your property. Never store these materials within the flood zone. They may be carried away during storm events. If you need assistance cleaning up the creek, contact some of the organizations listed on the back page for ideas and assistance.

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