Changes

 

When assessing LID options on

When assessing LID options on your site, identifying pollution threats is an important part of the pre-design process. Applying the principles of pollution prevention (P2) the use of processes, practices, materials, products, substances or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants and waste, and reduce the overall risk to the environment and human health can help eliminate those pollution threats, ensure compliance

your site, identifying pollution threats is an important part of

with regulations and bylaws, and create a safer environment for staff and customers.

the pre-design process. Applying the principles of pollution

P2 is about anticipating and preventing pollution instead of reacting to it after a spill or release has occurred. It is part of an ongoing pollution management approach comprised of prevention, control and clean-up.

prevention (P2) -- the use of processes, practices, materials,

P2 opportunities can be found throughout any site or operation. For instance, installing different equipment or technology, or changing raw materials or staff routines can result in pollution prevention.

products, substances or energy that avoid or minimize the

The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:

creation of pollutants and waste, and reduce the overall risk to

the environment and human health -- can help eliminate those

pollution threats, ensure compliance

with regulations and bylaws, and create a safer environment

for staff and customers.

 

P2 is about anticipating and preventing pollution instead of

reacting to it after a spill or release has occurred. It is part of

an ongoing pollution management approach comprised

of prevention, control and clean-up.

 

P2 opportunities can be found throughout any site or operation.

For instance, installing different equipment or technology, or

changing raw materials or staff routines can result in pollution

prevention.

 

The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to

another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:

===Dumpster management===  

===Dumpster management===  

Dumpsters can be a major source of pollution that can affect [[water quality]]. When dumpster lids are left open, rainwater is able to mix with the trash, resulting in a leaking fluid, or “dumpster juice”, which can contain toxic organic and inorganic materials. If not treated, this dumpster juice can enter the storm drain system, contributing to poor water quality.

Dumpsters can be a major source of pollution that can affect [[water quality]]. When dumpster lids are left open, rainwater is able to mix with the trash, resulting in a leaking fluid, or “dumpster juice”, which can contain toxic organic and inorganic materials. If not treated, this dumpster juice can enter the storm drain system, contributing to poor water quality.

===Parking lot maintenance===  

===Parking lot maintenance===  

Maintenance operations

Maintenance operations have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff if sensible P2 practices are not employed. This is particularly true of power washing, which can deliver sediment, [[nutrients]], [[heavy metals]], hydrocarbons and other pollutants into the storm drain system.

have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff if sensible

 

P2 practices are not employed. This is particularly true

of power washing, which can deliver sediment, nutrients,

hydrocarbons and other pollutants into the storm drain

system.

===Building maintenance===  

===Building maintenance===  

Some building maintenance

Some building maintenance practices produce polluted wash-water that can directly enter the storm drain system during dry weather, whereas others deposit fine particles or liquids that can wash away into stormsewers during wet weather.

practices produce polluted wash-water that can directly

 

enter the storm drain system during dry weather,

whereas others deposit fine particles or liquids that can

wash away into stormsewers during wet weather.

===Landscaping and grounds care===  

===Landscaping and grounds care===  

Landscaping

Landscaping services are generally performed by a lawn care/ landscaping contractor or an in-house maintenance crew. Poor landscaping practices can create stormwater pollution, particularly in urban areas where soils are compacted.

services are generally performed by a lawn care/

 

landscaping contractor or an in-house maintenance

crew. Poor landscaping practices can create stormwater

pollution, particularly in urban areas where soils are

compacted.

===Outdoor storage===  

===Outdoor storage===  

The risk of stormwater pollution

The risk of stormwater pollution is greatest for operations that store large quantities of liquids or bulk materials at sites that are connected to

is greatest for operations that store large quantities of

the storm drain system. Protecting outdoor storage areas is a simple and effective P2 practice.

liquids or bulk materials at sites that are connected to

 

the storm drain system. Protecting outdoor storage areas

is a simple and effective P2 practice.

===Vehicle maintenance and repair===  

===Vehicle maintenance and repair===  

Often, vehicles

Often, vehicles that are wrecked or awaiting repair can be a concern if leaking fluids are exposed to stormwater runoff. Vehicle maintenance and repair can generate oil and grease, trace metals, hydrocarbons, and other toxic organic compounds. When vehicles are washed on impervious surfaces, dirty wash water can contaminate stormwater with sediments, phosphorus, metals, oil and grease, and other pollutants that can degrade water quality.

that are wrecked or awaiting repair can be a concern if

 

leaking fluids are exposed to stormwater runoff. Vehicle maintenance and repair can generate oil and grease,

===Fuelling stations===

trace metals, hydrocarbons, and other toxic organic

Delivery of pollutants to the storm drain can be sharply reduced by well designed fuelling areas and improved operational procedures. The risk of spills depends on whether the fuelling area is covered and has secondary containment.

compounds. When vehicles are washed on impervious

 

surfaces, dirty wash water can contaminate stormwater

===Snow and ice management===

with sediments, phosphorus, metals, oil and grease, and

Ontario experiences severe winter weather with large amounts of snowfall. Common snow removal practices include application of de-icer. De-icer is usually made from a urea compound or rock salt. Many property managers apply the products indiscriminately, assuming that more is better. However these de-icers wash into local waterways when the snow starts to melt. The key to de-icer usage is to apply it sparingly, and to remove most of the snow before application. See also [[salt management]].

other pollutants that can degrade water quality.

8. Fuelling stations - Delivery of pollutants to the storm

drain can be sharply reduced by well designed fuelling

areas and improved operational procedures. The risk of

spills depends on whether the fuelling area is covered

and has secondary containment.

9. Snow and ice management - Ontario experiences

severe winter weather with large amounts of snowfall.

Common snow removal practices include application of

de-icer. De-icer is usually made from a urea compound

or rock salt. Many property managers apply the products

indiscriminately, assuming that more is better. However

these de-icers wash into local waterways when the

snow starts to melt. The key to de-icer usage is to apply

it sparingly, and to remove most of the snow before

application.

==P2 in practice==

==P2 in practice==

===Outdoor storage===

===Outdoor storage===

Outdoor storage can create potential pollution threats as

Outdoor storage can create potential pollution threats as rainfall or runoff comes into contact with product, materials or waste being stored outdoors. Further complications are added when property facilities (i.e. waste bins, recycling bins) are susceptible to illegal dumping. To prevent and manage pollution threats from outdoor storage, there are a variety of P2 strategies that can be employed. Simple strategies can be employed such as storing de-icing salt in a dedicated storage container to prevent continual loss of salt from precipitation. Other best practices include using large storage containers to protect chemical storage drums.

rainfall or runoff comes into contact with product, materials

 

or waste being stored outdoors. Further complications are

added when property facilities (i.e. waste bins, recycling bins)

are susceptible to illegal dumping. To prevent and manage

pollution threats from outdoor storage, there are a variety of

P2 strategies that can be employed.

Simple strategies can be employed such as storing de-icing

salt in a dedicated storage container to prevent continual loss

of salt from precipitation. Other best practices include using

large storage containers to protect chemical storage drums.

===Dumpster management===

===Dumpster management===

Maintenance of dumpsters is often overlooked, and as a result

Maintenance of dumpsters is often overlooked, and as a result many dumpsters are in poor condition. Cracks in dumpsters will leak toxic organic and inorganic materials into catchbasins and towards waterways. Opportunities for P2 include locating dumpsters on a flat concrete surface that does not slope or drain to the storm drain system, installing a secondary containment system such as a berm or curb around the dumpster, and closing and securing lids properly when the dumpster is not being loaded or unloaded.

many dumpsters are in poor condition. Cracks in dumpsters

will leak toxic organic and inorganic materials into catchbasins

and towards waterways. Opportunities for P2 include locating

dumpsters on a flat concrete surface that does not slope

or drain to the storm drain system, installing a secondary containment

system such as a berm or curb around the dumpster, and closing and securing

lids properly when the dumpster is not being loaded or unloaded.

Education is a critical component in the implementation of pollution prevention measures.  

Education is a critical component in the implementation of pollution prevention measures. Training your employees on both P2 procedures as well as the reasons behind them can change

Training your employees on both P2 procedures as well as the reasons behind them can change

attitudes toward pollution prevention. Employees may be more diligent in following P2 practices if they understand how it effects the quality of their drinking water.

attitudes toward pollution prevention. Employees may be more diligent in following P2  

practices if they understand how it effects the quality of their drinking water.