Job Specific BMPs
Transportation Related Washing examples
Fleet Washing - Exterior Only
To remove dirt and hydrocarbons, with or without soap, Storm Drain disposal is not permitted. The wash water must be discharged to Landscaping or the Sanitary Sewer, some unavoidable evaporation will occur from paved surfaces.
Preferred - use wash pads to capture the wash water and discharge to the Sanitary Sewer.
- Ideally, the customer has established a separate wash area that captures wash water.
- Or, contract cleaner can use a temporary wash pad and pump to the Sanitary Sewer.
- If the wash area is a paved surface, seal Storm Drains and rinse this surface after washing and rinsing each vehicle.
- If a significant amount of wash water runoff evaporates at the site before it can be collected, and the site is routinely used for this purpose, the paved area itself must be cleaned.
- The wash water must be collected and discharged to the Sanitary Sewer.
2nd Best - direct wash water to landscape or dirt area.
- Wash water should be discharged to a landscape or dirt area sufficiently large enough to contain all the wash water. Discuss with the property owner.
Engine/Equipment Degreasing
Auto/truck drive train cleaning, engine degreasing and airplane cleaning including landing gear.
- With or without soap, no Storm Drain disposal permitted.
- Requires pretreatment before discharge to Sanitary Sewer.
- Should be cleaned on a wash pad.
Acid Cleaning of Unpainted Trucks/Containers
Trucks and metal containers (unpainted) using acid cleaners.
- No Storm Drain disposal permitted.
- Runoff from cleaning unpainted trucks or containers with acid cleaners must be neutralized to a pH between 6 and 10 before discharging to the Sanitary Sewer
Mobile Auto Detailing
Infrequent, light cleaning, using soap - rarely at the same site; removing mainly dirt with minimum water volume.
Preferred - minimal runoff may remain on paved surfaces to evaporate.
- If wash water will reach the Storm Drain, seal the Storm Drain and discharge the wash water to the Sanitary Sewer.
2nd Best - direct wash water to landscape or dirt area.
- Wash water should be discharged to a dirt or landscape area sufficiently large enough to contain all the wash water. Discuss with the property owner.
Car Lot Rinsing for Dust Removal
Rinsing dust from exterior surfaces using water only, no soap or solvent.
- If the vehicle or vehicles have been previously washed with a soap or solvent following BMPs, then it is acceptable to rinse the vehicles with just water and allow to discharge to a Storm Drain.
- The cars have to been cleaned before rinsing with just water to reduce dust.
- Wash water should be discharged to a landscape or dirt area sufficiently large enough to contain all the wash water. Discuss with the property owner.
- Prevent contamination of the runoff by not allowing it to run through oil deposits on the pavement or gutter.
Semi Trailers
Truck trailer, non toxic food related interior cleaning.
- Sweep, collect and dispose of debris. Use dry cleaning methods as much as possible.
- Food residue must be properly filtered.
- Filtered contents are disposed of as garbage.
- Wash water cannot be discharged to the Storm Drain but must be discharged to the Sanitary Sewer.
Boat Cleaning
- Filtered wash water must be discharged to the Sanitary Sewer.
- Do not allow wash water to enter the lake, river, bay, ocean, etc.
- Dispose of paint particles appropriately.
- These BMPs do not address the disposal of paint.
Surface Cleaning examples
Sidewalks and Plazas - using soap and/or hot water
- Sweep, collect and dispose of debris.
- Wash water must go to the Sanitary Sewer
- The BMPs in this section do not apply if there has been an oil or other hazardous material spill on the site. In the case of a hazardous spill, contact the local fire department for guidance.
Sidewalks, Plazas, Driveways, Drive-thru Window Areas - with light oil, frequently cleaned - no soap
- Sweep, collect and dispose of debris.
- Dry clean oil spots and properly dispose of debris.
- Place oil absorbent boom or oil sock around storm drain.
- Wash water may go to the Storm Drain through an oil absorbent boom and screen.
- No oil sheen can be visible on the water flowing into the Storm Drain.
Drive-thrus, Driveways, Service Stations - with excess oil deposits, not frequently cleaned - with or without soap
- Sweep, collect and dispose of debris.
- Dry clean oil spots with absorbent and dispose of properly.
- Seal Storm Drains and discharge wash water to the Sanitary Sewer.
Building Exteriors, Walls, House Washing, Roof Cleaning - without soap
- Sweep, collect and dispose of debris.
- Dry clean oil spots and properly dispose of debris.
- Place oil absorbent boom or oil sock around storm drain.
- Wash water may go to the Storm Drain through an oil absorbent boom and screen.
- No oil sheen can be visible on the water flowing into the Storm Drain.
Building Exteriors, Walls, House Washing, Roof Cleaning - with soap
Preferred - seal Storm Drain, discharge wash water to the Sanitary Sewer.
2nd Best - direct wash water runoff to dirt or landscape areas.
Painted building, with paint job in good shape - no soap used
- Built after 1977. For structures built before 1978, see the EPAs lead abatement program. These BMPs do not address this issue.
Preferred - pre-clean, seal Storm Drain, discharge wash water to the Sanitary Sewer.
- Dispose of collected particles as garbage.
2nd Best - pre-clean then direct wash water runoff to dirt or landscape areas.
Painted buildings, to remove paint and clean in preparation of painting - with or without soap
- These BMPs do not address the disposal of paint.
Graffiti Removal - using wet sand blasting or high pressure washing with cleaning compound.
- Minimize quantity of water used.
Preferred - pre-clean, seal storm drain, discharge wash water to the Sanitary Sewer.
2nd Best - pre-clean then direct wash water runoff to dirt or landscape areas.
Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning
- With or without soap, no Storm Drain disposal permitted.
- Large amounts of grease should be collected and put into the grease dumpster or disposed to Environmental Waste company
- Wash water disposed to the grease trap.
Parking Garages - with excess oil deposits, not frequently cleaned - with or without soap
· Sweep, collect and dispose of debris.
Note: This may be hiring a street sweeper to do the initial cleaning.
· Dry clean oil spots with absorbent and dispose of properly.
· Seal Storm Drains and discharge wash water to the “Sanitary Sewer”.
Terminology:
· Sand Trap means some type of remediation for dirt, sand, debris, and hydrocarbons;
Common names are: Oil/Water Separator, Clarifiers, Sand Traps, inceptors, etc.
· AHJ: Authority Having Jurisdiction, which is going to be where you discharge your
waste water to: Sanitary Sewer or Storm Drain (MS4) Departments.
First off, to bid this type of job you need to look at the Architect Blue Prints and have a walk through with the inspector of the Sanitation Department to determine the following (in some cases the Sanitation Department will have plans which are more accurate and marked in conjunction with Google Maps):
· Where the Sanitary Sewer lines are, how they are identified or marked, and their flow capacity that is available for your waste water discharge. Note: if you exceed the capacity of Sanitary Sewer Lines you can stop up the plumbing and have multiple over flows of commodes on several floors!
· Where the Storm Drain lines are, how they are identified or marked, and their flow capacity that is available for your waste water discharge.
· What type of remediation system is at the bottom of the structure: is it a sand trap, Oil/Water Separator, sand/dirt filter, or nothing? You will find all types of remediation systems; newer buildings may have extensive remediation system like a sand trap or other advanced technology while older buildings may discharge everything directly to the storm drain (MS4).
· If there is a water collection system at the bottom of the structure, where does it discharge to? Sanitary Sewer or Storm Drain (MS4).
· What sort of containment technology exists in the structure? Was it built with Power Washing taken into consideration?
· Often Parking Garages are attached to loading docks. These will probably be covered to stop the entry of Storm Water with a Sand Trap installed leading to Sanitary Sewer. A lot of building managers do not know where these discharges go. Sometimes this takes up to a week to find out, but you have to know.
· After all of the above have been determined, you need to contact the Sanitary Sewer or Storm Drain (MS4) Departments about discharging to them through the building collection system if it exists, and determining what additional remediation may be required.
· If the structure has not been designed properly then you will have to determine the best way of capturing your wash water for proper disposal.
· If the EPA’s Model Ordinance has been adopted then all that is required is Precleaning and Filtration as explained in the first two PWNA/UAMCC BMPs, and determine the best way to capture your wash water for discharge to sanitary sewer.
· Where the waste water is discharged to will be the AHJ on the amount of remediation required. It can be as simple as oil absorbent booms and a sand filter to highly technical equipment costing over $100,000.00. These units have very large filtration capacity because of the large amounts of pollutants and debris found in multi-story parking garages. Your filtration system has to have the capacity to handle your discharge volume.
