Difference between revisions of "Pollution prevention"

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When assessing LID options on
+
__NOTOC__
your site, identifying pollution threats is an important part of
+
[[File:DumpsterDiving.jpg|thumb|]]
the pre-design process. Applying the principles of pollution
+
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
prevention, -- the use of processes, practices, materials,
+
with regulations and bylaws, and create a safer environment for staff and customers.
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
+
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.
reacting to it after a spill or release has occurred. It is part of
+
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.
an ongoing pollution management approach that is comprised
+
The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:
of prevention, control and clean-up.
 
  
P2 opportunities can be found throughout any site or operation.
+
{| class="wikitable"
For instance, installing different equipment or technology, or
+
|+Opportunities for Pollution Prevention
changing raw materials or staff routines can result in pollution
+
|-
prevention.
+
!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.
 +
|-
 +
!Grease management
 +
|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
 +
|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.
 +
|-
 +
!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.
 +
|-
 +
!Landscaping and grounds care
 +
|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
 +
|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
 +
|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.
 +
|-
 +
!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.
 +
|-
 +
!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. See also [[salt management]].
 +
|}
 +
==P2 in practice==
 +
Here are three examples of how some P2 techniques have
 +
been applied:
 +
===Fueling stations and spill containment===
  
 +
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 temporarily detain any spills, allowing for them to be cleaned and disposed of before reaching storm sewers. This can also 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.
  
The ways in which P2 is achieved varies from one sector to
 
another, but typically there are nine common opportunities:
 
  
==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”
 
that 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==
+
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
Restaurants produce grease
+
| [[File:Spill containment structure - Mississauga.JPG|thumb|This spill containment structure in Mississauga prevents sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide from leaking into nearby storm drains and natural feautres]]
and other wastes as a by-product of normal food
+
| [[File:Fueling station - post construction.jpg|thumb|A fueling station at a Mississauga business features a catch basin and valve for each cleanups.]]
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==  
+
 
Maintenance operations
+
===Outdoor storage===
have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff if sensible
+
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 exposure to precipitation. Other best practices include using large storage containers to protect chemical storage drums, as seen below.
P2 practices are not employed. This is particularly true
+
 
of power washing, which can deliver sediment, nutrients,
+
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
hydrocarbons, and other pollutants to the storm drain
+
| [[File:Bernardi and Fedar - solvent containment unit (P2).jpg|thumb|]]
system.
+
| [[File:Bernardi and Fedar - solvent containment (P2).jpg|thumb|]]
==Building maintenance==
+
|}
Some building maintenance
+
 
practices produce polluted wash water that can directly
+
 
enter the storm drain system during dry weather,
+
===Dumpster management===
whereas others deposit fine particles or liquids that can
+
Dumpster maintenance is often overlooked. 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 flat concrete surfaces that do not slope toward or drain into 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.
wash away into stormsewers during wet weather.
+
 
==Landscaping and grounds care == Landscaping
+
Education is a critical component in the implementation of pollution prevention measures. Training your employees on 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.
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==
 
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 == Often, vehicles
 
that are wrecked or awaiting repair can be a concern if
 
leaking fluids are exposed to stormwater runoff. Vehicle
 

Latest revision as of 16:10, 29 November 2018

DumpsterDiving.jpg

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 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:

Opportunities for Pollution Prevention
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.
Grease management 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 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.
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.
Landscaping and grounds care 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 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 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.
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.
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. See also salt management.

P2 in practice[edit]

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

Fueling stations and spill containment[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 temporarily detain any spills, allowing for them to be cleaned and disposed of before reaching storm sewers. This can also 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.


This spill containment structure in Mississauga prevents sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide from leaking into nearby storm drains and natural feautres
A fueling station at a Mississauga business features a catch basin and valve for each cleanups.


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 exposure to precipitation. Other best practices include using large storage containers to protect chemical storage drums, as seen below.

Bernardi and Fedar - solvent containment unit (P2).jpg
Bernardi and Fedar - solvent containment (P2).jpg


Dumpster management[edit]

Dumpster maintenance is often overlooked. 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 flat concrete surfaces that do not slope toward or drain into 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. Training your employees on 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.