Pollution From Surface Cleaning

Flat work Sidewalks Plazas Building exteriors Parking areas Drive-throughs Pollution From Surface Cleaning

It harms the environment . . . Where do these pollutants come from?

In most parts of the San In general, three phases of the cleaning process can cause problems for the environment: Francisco Bay Area, storm drains are pathways for pollution, • Using harmful cleaning chemicals—including soaps as well as solvents traveling directly from streets, • Removing toxic materials such as oil, antifreeze, and gutters, and other paved surfaces grease from parking lots, sidewalks, or other surfaces to local creeks or the Bay, Ocean • Generating polluted wash water from activities such as or Delta. Wash water from sur- wet sand blasting of buildings to remove paint face cleaning activities often car- ries pollutants that can harm the What sorts of hazardous waste can numerous wildlife species that surface cleaning generate? depend on healthy waterways for • Oil-saturated absorbents (but not oil-saturated rags, their survival. which can be cleaned at an industrial laundry) • Wash water that contains lead paint chips . . .And it’s against the law! • Solvent cleaners Allowing polluting substances into storm drains is prohibited in California. Both the person who discharges the pollutant or leaves it behind, and the owner of the property where the material is generated are liable.

This folder provides guidance for mobile cleaners to prevent pollu- tion when cleaning flat surfaces such as sidewalks, plazas, build- ing exteriors, parking areas, and drive-throughs.

This guidance is not specifically intended to be appropriate for other mobile cleaning jobs such as fleet washing and detailing, carpet cleaning, or cleaning of food-related equipment. Tips on proper cleaning and disposal methods

Avoid using soap! Collecting wash water Hazardous waste disposal • Even biodegradable soap is • A simple and acceptable meth- • Be sure to read cleaning harmful to the environment. od for collecting wash water on product labels before disposing Before you use soap, test to private property requires only of wash water. Follow use and see whether hot water under a drain plug, small sump pump, disposal instructions carefully . pressure will do the job. and a length of hose. If a small • Check with the city or county parking-lot-type catch basin is environmental health depart- Dry cleanup methods available, remove the grate, ment to find out how small plug the drain pipe (usually 2, • In many cases you can elimi- businesses can dispose of haz- 3, or 4 inches in diameter), and nate the need to collect and/or ardous waste at a drop-off event place the pump in the catch ba- divert wash water if you follow (instead of hiring a hazardous sin, attached to a garden hose. this two-step process: waste hauler). As wash water drains to this In general, you must gener- 1. Use absorbents (such as lowest spot, pump to landscap- ate less than 27 gallons or 220 rags, absorbent mats or ing, a sewer line cleanout, or a pounds of a particular type pads, rice hull ash, cat litter, container for later disposal of waste each month to qualify vermiculite, or sand) to pick to the sewer. up greasy or oily spills. to use these “Conditionally • Vacuum booms are another op- Exempt Small Quantity 2. Sweep or vacuum to pick tion for capturing and collecting Generator” (CESQG) up litter, debris, or saturated wash water. programs. absorbents Directing wash water to Equipment and supplies • Waste materials from dry landscaping cleanup such as absorbents, • Special materials such as sheets paint chips, etc. may often • When routing wash water to of absorbent, storm drain plugs be disposed of in the trash. landscaping, check the slope and seals, small sump pumps, Check with the local solid and area to be sure to avoid and vacuum booms are avail- waste authority to be sure. runoff into a street or gutter. able from many vendors. For Rags may be sent to an If the soil is very dry, wet more information check cata- industrial laundry. it down thoroughly before logs such as: discharging so that wash water Pigalog 1-800-468-4647 Screening wash water will soak into the soil instead of www.newpig.com • When cleaning surfaces such running off to the street, gutter, Lab Safety as buildings and decks without or storm drain. Supply 1-800-356-0783 loose paint, sidewalks, or plazas Blocking storm drains or www.labsafety.com without soap, thorough dry containing wash water cleanup should be sufficient to C&H 1-800-558-9966 protect storm drains. However • Sand bags can be used to create www.chdist.com if any debris could enter storm a barrier around storm drains. W.W. Grainger 1-408-433-9889 drains or remain in the gutter • Plugs or rubber mats can be www.grainger.com or street after cleaning, wash used to seal storm drain open- water should first pass through ings. • For other vendors and additional a “20 mesh” or finer screen information, call or visit: to catch the material, which • You can also use vacuum should be disposed of in booms, containment pads, or Cleaning Equipment the trash. temporary berms to keep wash Trade Assoc. 1-800-433-9889 water away from the street, gut- www.ceta.org ter, or storm drain. Power Washers of North America 1-202-393-7044 www.pwna.org So Where Should Wash Water Go?

Onto landscaping Down a sink, To the street or NO DUMPING!! FLOWS TO BAY or unpaved toilet, or cleanout storm drain surface — through the sewer to a Wash water from cleaning wastewater treatment plant Wash water from unpainted building exteriors, cleaning sidewalks, plazas, and Wash water from surface clean- sidewalks, or plazas, if: building exteriors, if: ing of painted building exteriors, • Discharge does not contain sidewalks, plazas, parking areas, • You have successfully used hazardous waste drive-throughs, food service dry cleanup methods facility dumpster/grease con- (described in the “tips” sec- AND tainment areas, etc., if: tion of this folder to remove • Discharge will not cause fresh oil stains, debris, and • You have used dry cleanup flooding or nuisance similar methods before washing with problems, or flow to a creek pollutants—before or without soap using water AND AND AND • You have the owner’s • Discharge does not contain permission • Cleaning is done with hazardous waste water only—no soap AND or other cleaning chemicals • (For parking lots, traffic areas, food service facility dump- AND ster/grease containment • Water has not removed areas) You or the property paint owner have checked the local wastewater treatment plant’s requirements before discharging to the sewer Cleaning and Disposal

Type of Surface Cleaning Method Proper Disposal

Sidewalks, plazas Dry cleanup* first, wash Screen wash water,* if needed, to catch debris without soap THEN Discharge to landscaping,* or to a gutter, street, or storm drain

Sidewalks, plazas Block the storm drain or Discharge to landscaping* contain runoff* OR Collect water and pump to the sewer* Dry cleanup,* the wash with soap*

Parking areas, driveways, 1. Block the storm drain or Collect water and pump to the sewer* drive-throughs contain runoff* Check the local wastewater authority’s 2. Use absorbents to pick up requirements for discharge oil; then dry sweep 3. Clean with or without soap

Restaurant/food handling Block the storm drain or If you must use water after sweeping/using ab- dumpster areas, grease contain runoff* sorbents, collect water and pump to the sewer* storage Check the local wastewater authority’s requirements for discharge

Building surfaces, decks, Dry cleanup Screen wash water,* if needed, to catch debris etc., without loose paint THEN Use high-pressure water, Discharge to landscaping,* or to a gutter, street, no soap or storm drain

Unpainted building Block the storm drain or Make sure pH is between 6 and 10 surfaces, wood contain runoff* THEN decks, etc. Discharge to landscaping* Use soap or acid wash to OR remove deposits, wood re- Collect wash water in a tank* and pump to the storer, or other chemicals sewer Check the local wastewater authority’s requirements for discharge

Painted surfaces being Block the storm drain or Collect wash water in a tank and pump to the cleaned to remove paint contain runoff* sewer, or dispose as hazardous waste, as appro- or graffiti priate* Use any cleaning method Call the local wastewater authority or the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (510- 540-3732) for help in determining whether the paint contains toxic pollutants such as lead, mercury, or tri-butyl tin; or if the solvent cleaners you use are hazardous

Graffiti removal Block the storm drain or Direct all runoff to a landscaped or unpaved contain runoff* area* OR Wet sand-blast Follow instructions above for painted surfaces

* See tips section for ideas on how to do this! The Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association and the Regional Water Quality Control Board gratefully acknowledge the contributions to this effort of the Santa Clara Valley Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program, the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program, and the Cleaning Equipment Trade Association. © BASMAA 1996, 2003. www.basmaa.org