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Preventing Pollution: It’s Up to Us In the Santa Clara Valley, storm drains transport water directly to local creeks and San Francisco Bay without treatment. Stormwater pollution is a serious problem for wildlife dependent on our waterways and for the people who live near polluted streams or baylands. Some common sources of this pollution include spilled oil, fuel, and fluids from vehicles and heavy equipment; construction debris; sediment created by erosion; landscaping runoff containing pesticides or weed killers; and materials such as used motor oil, antifreeze, and paint products that people pour or spill into a street or storm drain. Thirteen valley municipalities have joined together with Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Valley Water District to educate local residents and businesses and fight stormwater pollution. Join us, by following the practices described in this pamphlet. Doing the Job Right General Business Practices Protect stockpiles and landscaping materials from wind and rain by storing them under tarps or secured plastic sheeting. Store pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals indoors or in a shed or storage cabinet. Schedule grading and excavation projects during dry weather. Use temporary check dams or ditches to divert runoff away from storm drains. Protect storm drains with sandbags or other sediment controls. Revegetation is an excellent form of erosion control for any site. Landscaping/Garden Maintenance Use pesticides sparingly, according to instructions on the label. Rinse empty containers, and use rinsewater as product. Dispose of rinsed, empty containers in the trash. Dispose of unused pesticides as hazardous waste. Collect lawn and garden clippings, pruning waste, and tree trimmings. Chip if necessary, and compost. In communities with curbside pick-up of yard waste, place clippings and pruning waste at the curb in approved bags or containers. Or, take to a landfill that composts yard waste. No curbside pickup of yard waste is available for commercial properties. Do not blow or rake leaves, etc. into the street, or place yard waste in gutters or on dirt shoulders, unless you are piling them for recycling (allowed by San Jose and unincorporated County on Sweep up any leaves, lit residue in gutters or on In San Jose, leave yard w for curbside recyclin ly). ter or street. aste g pickup in hes piles in the street, 18 inc from the curb and completely out of the flow line to any storm drain. Storm Drain Pollution from Landscaping and Swimming Pool Maintenance Many landscaping activities expose soils and increase the likelihood that earth and garden chemicals will run off into the storm drains during irrigation or when it rains. Swimming pool water containing chlorine and copper- based algaecides should never be discharged to storm drains. These chemicals are toxic to aquatic life. Pool/Fountain/Spa Maintenance Draining pools or spas When it’s time to drain a pool, spa, or fountain, please be sure to call your local wastewater treatment plant before you start for further guidance on flow rate restrictions, backflow prevention, and handling special cleaning waste (such as acid wash). Discharge flows should be kept to the low levels typically possible through a garden hose. Higher flow rates may be prohibited by local ordinance. Never discharge pool or spa water to a street or storm drain; discharge to a sanitary sewer cleanout. If possible, when emptying a pool or spa, let chlorine dissipate for a few days and then recycle/reuse water by draining it gradually onto a landscaped area. Do not use copper-based algaecides. Control algae with chlorine or other alternatives, such as sodium bromide. Filter Cleaning Never clean a filter in the street or near a storm drain. Rinse cartridge and diatomaceous earth filters onto a dirt area, and spade filter residue into soil. Dispose of spent diatomaceous earth in the garbage. If there is no suitable dirt area, call your local wastewater treatment plant for instructions on discharging filter backwash or rinsewater to the sanitary sewer. ---PAGE BREAK--- Small Business Hazardous Waste Disposal Program Businesses that generate less than 27 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month are eligible to use Santa Clara County’s Small Business Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. Call (408) 299-7300 for a quote, more information or guidance on disposal. Palo Alto operates a similar program, with ity of 0 for information or to try lication of Solvents and Ear Act lara, call (408) 984-3080. In the City of Palo Alto, call (650) 329-2413. s 1-[PHONE REDACTED] 0 195 ey 4 alley Water District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (408) 265-2600 . . . . . . 1-[PHONE REDACTED] 00 s, Monte Sereno, San Jose, Santa lant (408) 730-7270 Serving East Palo Alto Sanitary District, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Stanford collection, for small businesses. Call the C Palo Alto, (650) 496-6980, or Greenfield Services Corporation, 1-800-433-506 schedule an appointment. This brochure is one in a series of pamphlets describing storm drain pollution prevention measures for specific types of construction indus activities. Other pamphlets include: General Construction and Site Supervision Painting and App Adhesives Fresh Concrete and Mortar Application Roadwork and Paving th-Moving Activities and Dewatering ivities Heavy Equipment Operation Home Repair and Remodeling For additional brochures, call 1-[PHONE REDACTED]. Spill Response Agencies: 1. In the City of Santa C 2. 3. In the City of San Jose, Dial 9-1-1 if hazardou materials enter the storm drain system. For non-hazardous spills, call (408) 945-3000. 4. In other cities, DIAL 9-1-1 5. State Office of Emergency Services Warning Center (24 hours). . . . . . . . . . 6. Santa Clara County Environmental Health Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(408) 299-693 Local Pollution Control Agencies County of Santa Clara Pollution Prevention Program. . . . .(408) 441-1 County of Santa Clara Integrated Waste Management Program. . . . . . . . . . (408) 441-1198 County of Santa Clara District Attorn Environmental Crimes Hotline. . . . (408) 299-TIPS Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-533-841 Santa Clara V Santa Clara Valley Water District Pollution Hotline. . San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. . . . . . . . . . (408) 945-30 Serving Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpita Clara, Saratoga Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control P Serving Sunnyvale. . . . . . . . . Regional Water Quality ontrol Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(650) 329-2598 C Landscaping, Gardening, and Pool Maintenance Best Management Practices for the Construction Industry Who should use this brochure? Regional Water Quality Control Board San Francisco Bay Region. . . . . . . (510) 622-2300 June 2001 • • • kers • Pollution Prevention Program Landscapers Gardeners Swimming pool/spa service and repair wor • General contractors Home builders • Developers • Homeowners Santa Clara V alley Urban Runof f