Difference between revisions of "Pollution prevention"

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(Created page with "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, -- the...")
 
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When assessing LID options on
 
When assessing LID options on
 
your site, identifying pollution threats is an important part of
 
your site, identifying pollution threats is an important part of
Line 12: Line 14:
 
P2 is about anticipating and preventing pollution instead of
 
P2 is about anticipating and preventing pollution instead of
 
reacting to it after a spill or release has occurred. It is part of
 
reacting to it after a spill or release has occurred. It is part of
an ongoing pollution management approach that is comprised
+
an ongoing pollution management approach comprised
 
of prevention, control and clean-up.
 
of prevention, control and clean-up.
  
Line 19: Line 21:
 
changing raw materials or staff routines can result in pollution
 
changing raw materials or staff routines can result in pollution
 
prevention.
 
prevention.
 
  
 
The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to
 
The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to
 
another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:
 
another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:
  
==Dumpster management==  
+
===Dumpster management===  
 
Dumpsters can be a major
 
Dumpsters can be a major
 
source of pollution that can affect water quality. When
 
source of pollution that can affect water quality. When
dumpster lids are left open rainwater is able to mix with
+
dumpster lids are left open, rainwater is able to mix with
the trash, resulting in a leaking fluid, or “dumpster juice”
+
the trash, resulting in a leaking fluid, or “dumpster juice”,
that can contain toxic organic and inorganic materials. If
+
which can contain toxic organic and inorganic materials. If
 
not treated, this dumpster juice can enter the storm drain
 
not treated, this dumpster juice can enter the storm drain
 
system, contributing to poor water quality.
 
system, contributing to poor water quality.
  
==Grease management==  
+
===Grease management===  
 
Restaurants produce grease
 
Restaurants produce grease
 
and other wastes as a by-product of normal food
 
and other wastes as a by-product of normal food
Line 42: Line 43:
 
properly dispose of used waste.  
 
properly dispose of used waste.  
  
==Parking lot maintenance==  
+
===Parking lot maintenance===  
 
Maintenance operations
 
Maintenance operations
 
have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff if sensible
 
have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff if sensible
 
P2 practices are not employed. This is particularly true
 
P2 practices are not employed. This is particularly true
 
of power washing, which can deliver sediment, nutrients,
 
of power washing, which can deliver sediment, nutrients,
hydrocarbons, and other pollutants to the storm drain
+
hydrocarbons and other pollutants into the storm drain
 
system.
 
system.
==Building maintenance==  
+
===Building maintenance===  
 
Some building maintenance
 
Some building maintenance
practices produce polluted wash water that can directly
+
practices produce polluted wash-water that can directly
 
enter the storm drain system during dry weather,
 
enter the storm drain system during dry weather,
 
whereas others deposit fine particles or liquids that can
 
whereas others deposit fine particles or liquids that can
 
wash away into stormsewers during wet weather.
 
wash away into stormsewers during wet weather.
==Landscaping and grounds care == Landscaping
+
===Landscaping and grounds care===
 +
Landscaping
 
services are generally performed by a lawn care/
 
services are generally performed by a lawn care/
 
landscaping contractor or an in-house maintenance
 
landscaping contractor or an in-house maintenance
Line 61: Line 63:
 
pollution, particularly in urban areas where soils are
 
pollution, particularly in urban areas where soils are
 
compacted.
 
compacted.
==Outdoor storage==  
+
===Outdoor storage===  
 
The risk of stormwater pollution
 
The risk of stormwater pollution
 
is greatest for operations that store large quantities of
 
is greatest for operations that store large quantities of
Line 67: Line 69:
 
the storm drain system. Protecting outdoor storage areas
 
the storm drain system. Protecting outdoor storage areas
 
is a simple and effective P2 practice.
 
is a simple and effective P2 practice.
==Vehicle maintenance and repair == Often, vehicles
+
===Vehicle maintenance and repair===
 +
Often, vehicles
 
that are wrecked or awaiting repair can be a concern if
 
that are wrecked or awaiting repair can be a concern if
leaking fluids are exposed to stormwater runoff. Vehicle
+
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.
 +
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==
 +
Here are three examples of how some P2 techniques have
 +
been applied:
 +
===Fuelling stations===
 +
If activities on your site include the loading and unloading
 +
of product or supplies such as chemicals, fuels, or oils,
 +
you should have P2 techniques in place. Spill containment
 +
measures will temporarily detain any spills allowing for the
 +
spill to be cleaned and disposed of properly This can reduce
 +
the risks of a spill draining into an LID feature, catch basin or
 +
drainage swale. Valves can be incorporated into the design
 +
of the spill containment so that it can easily be drained of
 +
rainwater or liquid.
 +
===Outdoor storage===
 +
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.
 +
===Dumpster management===
 +
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

Revision as of 20:24, 15 December 2017

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, -- 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 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[edit]

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.

Grease management[edit]

Restaurants produce grease and other wastes as a by-product of normal food preparation. If grease is dumped or washed into sewers or storm drains, it can cause sanitary sewer overflows or stormwater runoff pollution. Restaurants can implement simple and low-cost P2 practices and train workers to properly dispose of used waste.

Parking lot maintenance[edit]

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, hydrocarbons and other pollutants into the storm drain system.

Building maintenance[edit]

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.

Landscaping and grounds care[edit]

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.

Outdoor storage[edit]

The risk of stormwater pollution is greatest for operations that store large quantities of 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[edit]

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. 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[edit]

Here are three examples of how some P2 techniques have been applied:

Fuelling stations[edit]

If activities on your site include the loading and unloading of product or supplies such as chemicals, fuels, or oils, you should have P2 techniques in place. Spill containment measures will temporarily detain any spills allowing for the spill to be cleaned and disposed of properly This can reduce the risks of a spill draining into an LID feature, catch basin or drainage swale. Valves can be incorporated into the design of the spill containment so that it can easily be drained of rainwater or liquid.

Outdoor storage[edit]

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.

Dumpster management[edit]

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