{"id":1932,"date":"2023-11-28T14:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T19:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/?page_id=1932"},"modified":"2025-06-20T14:31:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T18:31:13","slug":"pollution-prevention-for-outdoor-areas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/stormwater-pollution-prevention-for-businesses\/pollution-prevention-for-outdoor-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Pollution Prevention for Outdoor Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Stormwater is rain or snowmelt that flows over the ground. As stormwater runs over impervious surfaces like driveways, roofs, sidewalks, and streets; it can pick up pollutants that have collected on these surfaces – such as motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides, and trash – and allow them to flow into stormwater catch basins. Stormwater flows into the storm drain system and is discharged without treatment into local waterways. <\/p>\n

Property owners are responsible and liable for all pollutants leaving their property. This includes stormwater that enters the storm drain, also known as catch basins, that is contaminated. Common pollutants generated by businesses such as automotive and food and beverage establishments include used motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizers and pesticides, sand, dirt, litter, paint, cooking oil, and cigarette butts.<\/p>\n

Recommended Practices for Cleaning & Maintaining Outdoor Areas <\/h2>\n

Most of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) identified below are non-structural and cost little or nothing to implement. This listing is not all-inclusive and other non-structural and structural BMPs can be implemented to further reduce the potential of contributing to stormwater pollution.<\/p>\n

\"On<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Parking Lot, Loading Docks & Delivery Areas<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Do<\/h3>\n
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  • Reduce the build-up of contaminants by regularly cleaning these areas.<\/li>\n
  • Sweep and remove all dirt, debris, and trash using a broom, blower, vacuum truck or sweeping machine.<\/li>\n
  • Clean up all visible oil deposits using absorbent materials.<\/li>\n
  • Properly dispose of used absorbent materials.<\/li>\n
  • If water is required, use as little as possible and do so without detergents.<\/li>\n
  • Prior to cleaning these areas using water or detergents, seal all storm water inlets in all potentially affected areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Don’t<\/h3>\n
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    • Allow dirt and oil to accumulate on or penetrate into the pavement.<\/li>\n
    • Pressure wash or use water to clean parking areas without first sweeping and removing all of the surface debris and trash.<\/li>\n
    • Pressure wash or use water to clean parking areas without spot-cleaning oil-stained areas.<\/li>\n
    • Pile spent or contained absorbent materials on the ground or dispose of this in a dumpster.<\/li>\n
    • Use an excess of water as the primary method of cleaning or use detergents unnecessarily.<\/li>\n
    • Allow wash water generated from cleaning parking and delivery areas to flow into the stormwater system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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      Dumpster & Trash Compactor Areas<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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      Do<\/h3>\n
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      • Inspect dumpster storage and trash compactor areas daily.<\/li>\n
      • Replace or repair leaky dumpsters.<\/li>\n
      • Keep dumpster lids closed.<\/li>\n
      • Have enough dumpster storage space and evaluate or increase the frequency of service.<\/li>\n
      • Dispose of food waste through a garbage disposal or bag and seal this waste before placing it in a dumpster.<\/li>\n
      • Minimize disposing of liquids in dumpsters and compactors.<\/li>\n
      • Sweep up trash regularly and use absorbent materials to clean up liquid spills and liquids draining from dumpsters or compactors.<\/li>\n
      • Locate trash compactors in an area surrounded by a berm and plumbed into an approved sanitary sewer drain connection.<\/li>\n
      • Prior to cleaning trash storage areas using water or detergents, seal all storm water inlets in all potentially affected areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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        Don’t<\/h3>\n
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        • Pile trash around full dumpsters or allow trash liquids to enter the stormwater system.<\/li>\n
        • Ignore leaks by frequently cleaning up after leaking dumpsters using a hose and water.<\/li>\n
        • Allow rain to fall into open dumpsters.<\/li>\n
        • Allow dumpsters to be overfilled or stack trash on the ground around full dumpsters.<\/li>\n
        • Dispose of open containers of food directly into a dumpster or allow it to be spilled around the disposal areas.<\/li>\n
        • Drain liquids from waste containers before disposing of them in dumpsters\/compactors.<\/li>\n
        • Pressure wash or use water to clean up liquids spills or allow trash leachate to enter the stormwater system.<\/li>\n
        • Allow wash water to generate from cleaning trash storage areas to flow into the stormwater system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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          Sidewalk, Plaza & Building Areas<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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          Do<\/h3>\n