In Summary Contact Information City of Newark Public Works

Waste cement washout is highly alkaline and very toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Stormwater Best To report a spill during regular business hours It also contains sediment that coats the stream Management call the City of Newark’s Emergency bed and destroys habitat. These materials can Management Coordinator at 302-366-7075 Practices degrade local waters when allowed to flow into Fact Sheet Series our storm drain system. Unlike sanitary sewers, After hours contact the DNREC Emergency Response Hotline at 1-800-662-8802 storm drains are not connected to a treatment plant. Water ultimately flows into our creeks For waste disposal and recycling questions call and tributaries. the Delaware Solid Waste Authority Citizens Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 Cement In addition, if you are caught allowing anything Washout For general stormwater program information but rain into the storm drain, you could be sub- contact the Stormwater Program Coordinator at ject to severe penalties and/or fines, plus the 302-366-7040 or visit our website at: cost of cleanup. http://newark.de.us/docs/departments/stormwater_program.html We need to stop stormwater pollution at the source.

This brochure has been The City of Newark prepared to educate Public Works Department contractors and the general 220 Elkton Road public about preferred cement Newark, DE 19711 washout waste disposal in order to protect the water Remember: quality in storm drains, and ultimately, the creeks and Only Rain In the Storm Drain tributaries in Newark.

10/03 INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLET # 28

Why should I care about Washout Tips Washout Tips Stormwater?

Never dispose of concrete Place all excess concrete This brochure is intended to educate washout into the street, in small piles where it can contractors and the general public about storm drains, drainage be disposed of as solid preferred cement washout waste disposal, ditches or streams. waste when dry. which minimizes the potential for storm water and water quality degradation. When you pour concrete, Use a minimum of water to you are responsible for the Water that flows into the storm sewer wash out the chute, finish- cleanup of all residue and system does not get treated at the waste ing tools, wheel barrows leftover concrete. If the water treatment plant. It flows through a and other equipment. series of pipes and discharges either City must dispose of it, directly or indirectly into our creeks and you will be billed tributaries. To minimize the potential for Carry a 10 gallon bucket or accordingly. water quality problems, we need to work other portable method of together to clean up our stormwater at As a last resort, you can catching and containing the source. block or berm the gutter a washout. minimum of 50’ from the storm drain to collect the Secure bags of cement after residue and allow for dry- they are open. Be sure to ing time. You may then keep wind-blown cement dispose of it as solid powder away from gutters, waste. storm drains, and runoff.

If there is evidence of

If suitable lawn is available, dumping cement or direct washout to a grassy cement wash water down area, where the liquid can a storm drain, gutter or infiltrate into the soil, or street, it will be treated as evaporate. Then, dispose of an illegal discharge and Before you allow anything to flow hardened concrete as solid DNREC enforcement will into a storm drain, stop and think waste. be notified. about how the water ultimately flows untreated into the creeks and Place concrete washout in tributaries in Newark. a form, holder, box, ber- med area or another ap- proved designated washout area.