Businesses, specifically restaurants and other food service facilities, have been shown to be potential contributors of bacteria to stormwater pollution. This is due to the presence of food wastes that are found at these facilities. The food wastes attract animals including rodents and birds which then leave waste filled with bacteria. Decaying food wastes also provide a breeding ground for any bacteria that may occur in the area.
While it is not practicable to remove all of these food wastes, it is possible to minimize their impact to water quality by using good housekeeping practices. |
|
Good Housekeeping Practices:
|
|
Dumpster Areas:
- Always keep dumpster lids on to keep animals out.
- Never place liquid waste or leaking garbage cans into a dumpster.
- Do not hose out dumpster into the parking lot, street, or storm drain.
- Leaking dumpsters and dumpsters that need cleaning should be attended to by proffesionals.
- Always keep the lids on used cooking oil storage containers and ensure the area around them remains clean.
- Have spill cleanup materials located near dumpster area.
Spill Cleanup and Containment:
- Maintain and keep current, a spill response plan such as one required by the City’s stormwater permit.
- Minimize distance between waste collection points and storage areas.
- Check floor drains to ensure that they are not connected to or discharge to a storm drain.
- Do not cleanup spills by hosing down washwater into parking lot, street, or storm drain.
|
Education and Training:
- Train all employees on stormwater pollution prevention upon hiring, and annually thereafter, making sure all employees understand stormwater discharge prohibitions and the good housekeeping practices at the facility.
- Clearly post instructional signs or posters around your facility to remind employees of the good housekeeping practices.
- Label outdoor drains to idicate whether they are sanitary sewer drains or stormwater drains that connect to the ocean.
Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance:
- Ensure that your irrigation procedures are properly implemented to reduce the possibility of overspray. This will save you money and reduce stormwater pollution potential.
- Properly apply all pesticides and fertilizers. Both can negatively affect water quality including facilitating bacteria growth.
|
 |
|
Clean Bay Restaurant Program:
The Clean Bay Restaurant Program is a program designed to get restaurants and other food service facilities to practice good housekeeping methods to reduce their stormwater pollution potential.
This program provides incentives to restaurants that meet certain requirements for reducing stormwater pollution potential.
For more information, visit the Clean Bay Restaurant Program website.
|
|
|
|