Tips for Businesses

Vehicle, Bus, Automobile Facilities & Garages

• Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn or other unpaved surface to minimize the amount of dirty, soapy water flowing into the storm drain and eventually into your local waterbody.
• Clean up spilled fluids immediately and properly dispose of clean-up/absorbent material. Do not rinse the spills into a nearby storm drain. Remember to properly dispose of the absorbent material.
• Recycle used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Don’t dump these chemicals down the storm drain or dispose of them in your trash.
• Properly maintain fleet vehicles to prevent oil, gas, and other discharges from being washed into the storm drain.
• Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in parking lots and paved areas can be washed into the storm sewer system.
• Sweep up litter and debris from sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots, especially around storm drains.
• Cover grease storage and dumpsters and keep them clean to avoid leaks.

Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater program requires construction site operators engaged in clearing, grading, and excavating activities that disturb 1 acre or more, including smaller sites in a larger common plan of development or sale, to obtain coverage under an NPDES permit for their stormwater discharges. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) is authorized to implement the Stormwater NPDES Permitting Program. For more information regarding NPDES stormwater permitting from construction activities, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website.