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Creek, River and Ocean Pollution Prevention: Its Up to Us

Santa Rosa has two drainage systems-the sanitary sewers and the storm drains. The storm drain system was designed to prevent flooding by carrying excess rainwater away from city streets out to local creeks, the Russian River and the ocean. Because the system contains no filters, it now serves the unintended function of carrying urban pollution straight to our waterways.

This pamphlet tells you how to prevent pollution from "storm water" or "urban runoff".

Rain, industrial and household water mixed with urban pollutants creates storm water pollution. The pollutants include: oil and other automotive fluids, paint and construction debris, yard and pet wastes, pesticides and litter.

Urban runoff pollution contaminates the waterways, closes beaches, harms aquatic life and increases the risk of inland flooding by clogging gutters and catch basins. Overall, storm water pollution costs the Sonoma County economy.

These Best Management Practices (BMP's) will ensure cleaner waterways and cities.

Painting Problems

All paints, solvents, and adhesives contain chemicals that are harmful to wildlife and humans. That is why proper handling and disposal of these products is so important.

Toxic chemicals from liquid or solid products or from cleaning residues or rags may enter our waterways via storm drains.

It is especially important not to clean brushes in an area where paint residue can flow to a street, gutter or storm drain. Once paint residue enters the storm drain system, it flows directly to creeks, rivers and the ocean.

Solution

A. Keep Work Sites Clean

• Best management practices such as handling, storing, and disposing of materials properly can prevent pollutants from entering the storm drains.

B. General Business Practices

• Keep all liquid paint products and wastes away from the street, gutter, and storm drains. Liquid residues from paints, thinners, solvents, glues and cleaning fluids are hazardous wastes. When throughly dry, used brushes, rags, drop cloths and empty paint cans (lids off), may be disposed of as trash.
• Use water based paints instead of oil-based paints. Look for the words "Latex" or "Clean up with water" on the label.
• Don't use paints over 15 years old. They may contain toxic levels of lead.
• Reuse paint thinner. Set used thinner aside in a closed jar to settle out paint particles. Then pour off clear liquid for future use. Dispose of residue as hazardous waste.

C. Paint Removal

• Chemical paint stripping residue is a hazardous waste. For disposal information, call the ECO-DESK HOTLINE at 527-3375.
• Chips and dust from marine paints or paints containing lead or tributyl tin are hazardous wastes. Dry sweep and call the ECO-DESK HOTLINE at 527-3375.
• Paint chips and dust from non-hazardous dry stripping and sand blasting may be swept up and disposed of as trash.
• When stripping or cleaning building exteriors with high-pressure water, block storm drains. Wash water onto a dirt area.
• Check with the Laguna Sugregional Industrial Waste division at 543-3369 to find out if you can collect (mop or vacuum) building cleaning water and drain it to the sewer.

D. Paint Cleanup

• Never clean brushes or rinse paint containers into a street, gutter, or storm drain.
• For water-based paints, paint out brushes to the extent possible, and rinse in the sink.
• For oil-based paints, paint out brushes to the extent possible. Clean with thinner and then filter and reuse thinner/solvent or dispose as hazardous waste.

E. Recycle or Reuse Leftover Paints

• Reuse leftover paint for touch-ups, or
• Recycle or use up excess paint. Call the ECO-DESK HOTLINE at 527-3375 for disposal instructions.

STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAM RESOURCE GUIDE

SPILLS AND DUMPING IN STORM DRAINS AND CREEKS

EMERGENCY SPILL SITUATION

TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

GASOLINE - ANTIFREEZE - OIL - PAINT - ETC.

CITY OR COUNTY: 9-1-1

NON-EMERGENCY SPILL SITUATION

NON TOXIC OR NON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

CITY: 543-3881 (FIELD SERVICES)

COUNTY: 525-6565 (ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH)

TO REPORT CLOGGED STORM DRAINS OR DITCHES

CITY: 543-3881 (PUBLIC WORKS)

COUNTY: 524-7280 (PUBLIC WORKS)

ECO - DESK HOTLINE 527-DESK (3375)

For more information on RECYCLING call the ECO-DESK. They have many listings and ideas.

This brochure is one of a series of pamphlets describing storm drain protection measures for construction projects. Other pamphlets include:

• City of Santa Rosa Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
• Heavy Equipment & Earth - Moving Activities
• Roadwork & Paving
• Fresh Concrete & Mortar Application
• General Construction & Site Supervision
• Home Repair & Remodeling

Rev. April 1998