Who Do I Contact To Expose A Car Repair Business That Dumps Toxic Chemicals

GOOD TO KNOW

Illegal dumping, likewise chosen illicit discharge, occurs when anything other than natural precipitation enters the storm bleed system.
The stormwater system takes pelting water away from homes and streets through the tempest bleed openings you run across on your neighborhood curb or the grates in the pavement. Dissimilar the wastewater that comes from within your home, stormwater is not treated. Anything that enters tempest drains is carried to local waterways.
Some common examples of illegal dumping in storm drains include:
- muddied wash water from washing your car or mop buckets
- yard waste like grass clippings and leaves
- chlorinated pond pool water
- trash/litter
- hazardous materials such as lawn chemicals, pigment, oil, etc.
Soap and other cleaners may comprise phosphorus which are peculiarly worrisome considering they fuel the growth of aquatic algae in our local waterways. Too much algae creates dead zones that lack the h2o quality and oxygen needed by fish and other aquatic life.
Storm drains tin can get clogged by illegal dumping, contributing to neighborhood flooding during rainfall events.
Just retrieve – only rain down the storm bleed!

Use dry methods such as sweeping, vacuuming or absorbents to make clean hard surfaces like sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters.
Use wet cleaning methods – like pressure level washing or car washing – only when acceptable precautions are taken to forbid the wash water from entering the tempest drain organisation.
Pick upwards litter to preclude information technology from entering the storm drains.
Always pick upwardly after your pets.

Dispose of small amounts of dirty wash water by dumping it into household drains or into grassy areas that can absorb the water without producing any runoff.
Never blow, rake, sweep, hose or otherwise dispose of leaves or grass clippings into the storm bleed.
Use your city or canton'due south household chancy waste product program to safely dispose of all paints, oils, chemicals, etc.

Consider using natural/greenish cleaning and lawn care products whenever possible.
Employ fertilizers and chemical pesticides sparingly and but when and where they are necessary. Don't apply lawn chemicals virtually curbs, gutters, streets and driveways.
Store all chemicals and chancy materials in covered areas and off the ground to forbid contact with rainfall or floodwaters.
Keep lids to trash and recycling carts closed at all times to prevent trash from blowing out and into the storm drains.
Perform routine vehicle maintenance to observe and fix fluid leaks.
Properly maintain septic systems to forbid leaks.

Contact your local stormwater department immediately if you see the post-obit:
- Someone dumping any substance (leaves, grass clippings, chemicals, paint, trash, etc.) into a storm drain.
- Water flowing in a storm bleed or ditch when information technology has not rained in 72 hours.
- A storm bleed, ditch, stormwater pond, etc. with particularly smelly water, an oily sheen, or obvious discoloration.

Businesses should inspect all outdoor waste product receptacles including dumpsters, recycling containers and oil collection containers for damage and ensure in that location are no leaks. Lids should exist kept closed at all times to forbid contact with rainfall or floodwaters
Businesses should provide customers with adequate trash and cigarette litter receptacles to discourage littering and perform daily litter pickups on their holding.
Whatever water generated from business activities may Non exist dumped into the storm bleed arrangement or any waterway.
If your concern generates wastewater of whatever kind, contact HRSD for instructions and approval on proper disposal.
Wash water and rinse water may exist directed to an canonical sanitary sewer or landscaped area, with permission from the belongings owner. However, the landscaped areas must be capable of arresting the water and should non crusade any stormwater runoff, pollution or erosion.

Sometime paint? Cleaning products? Batteries?