CITY OF PHOENIX
PREVENT STORM WATER CONTAMINATION
Best Management Practices
For Carpet, Building and Food-Related Mobile Cleaning

Last Modified: April 2, 1998

General Information:

1. Commercial/industrial wash water is prohibited from entering the storm drain system, street or any other outside area. Before discharging any water to the storm drain, call Storm Water Management at 602-256-3190 for more information and permission to discharge
2. All washing activities that use soap, solvents, degreasers or any other chemicals must be hauled to a landfill or discharged into the sanitary sewer through a sand/oil interceptor or approved pretreatment device. For more information about pretreatment devices and procedures, contact the Office of Pollution Control at 602-262-1859.
3. Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Haulers and can be found in the Phoenix Yellow pages under Septic Tank Cleaning.

Carpet and drapery cleaning

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain, street or any other outside area.
• Wash water must be discharged to the sanitary sewer or landfill.
• Ask your customer if you can discharge the wash water into the sanitary sewer (a toilet, sink or clean out) on the job site.
• Use a lint trap or filter when discharging to the sanitary sewer, dispose of the lint or fibers in the trash.
• If wash water is collected and transported from the wash site, it may be discharged into the first stage of a sand/oil interceptor at your place (contractor's) of business.
• Untreated wash water may kill plants. Do not use it for landscape irrigation.

Building surface cleaning Exterior walls with soap

• Wash water can not be discharged to the storm drain or street.
• Collect and discharge all wash water to the sanitary sewer or a landfill.
• Untreated wash water may kill plants. Do not use wash water for landscape irrigation.
• Seal the storm drains with an impervious material before washing begins.
• If wastewater is contained on-site for later removal, it must be picked up by an authorized Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Hauler.

Glass and Steel buildings Exterior walls, with water only

• Direct wash water to landscaped areas or sanitary sewer.
• Seal storm drains with a fabric filter to collect dirt and debris.
• Before washing begins, sweep, shovel and dispose of debris in the trash.

Masonry efflorescence (acid washing)

• Wash water is prohibited from entering the storm drain, street or any other outside area.
• Seal the storm drains using an impervious material before washing begins.
• Collect all wash water. Vacuum or pump the wash water to a holding tank for analyses and disposal.
• Adjust the wastewater to a pH between 5.0 and 10.5 before discharging to the sanitary sewer. Dilution is not an acceptable pretreatment. Call 602-262-1859 for more information.
• Filter out sand, dirt and debris before discharge, if necessary.

Buildings painted after 1978, with paint in good condition-without soap

• Direct wash water to landscaped area or sanitary sewer.
• Seal all storm drains with a fabric filter to collect paint chips, dirt and debris.

Buildings painted with lead-based or mercury-based paint-with or without soap

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain, street or any other outside area.
• Seal the storm drains with an impervious material before washing begins.
• Collect all wash water. Vacuum or pump the wash water to a holding tank for laboratory analyses and disposal.
• Water and sludge may be a hazardous waste; laboratory testing may be required to determine the proper method of disposal.

Sidewalks and plazas-without soap

• Direct wash water to landscaped areas or sanitary sewer.
• Before washing begins, sweep, shovel and dispose of debris in the trash.
• Seal storm drains with a fabric filter to collect dirt and debris.

Sidewalks and plazas-with soap

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain or street.
• Before washing begins, sweep, shovel and dispose of debris in the trash.
• Seal storm drains with an impervious material, before the washing process begins.
• Collect all wash water. Vacuum or pump the wash water to a holding tank for analyses and disposal.
• Contained wash water may be discharged to the sanitary sewer or landfill.
• If collected wastewater is transported form the wash site, it may be discharged into a sand/oil interceptor at your place of business. Call 602-262-1859 for more information.

Restaurant alleys, grocery dumpster areas with or without soap

• Wash water is not allowed to enter the storm drain or street.
• Dry clean; use rags, absorbents and sweep up debris.
• Seal storm drains with an impervious material, before the washing process begins.
• Collect all wash water. Vacuum or pump the water to a holding tank for analyses and disposal.
• Pretreatment of all wastewater through a sand/oil interceptor may be required before discharge to sanitary sewer. Call the Office of Pollution Control for more information.
• Filter the wash water and dispose of the debris as trash.

Mobile Caterers with or without soap

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain or street.
• Seal storm drains with an impervious material, before the washing process begins.
• Use dry cleaning methods. Collect solid debris in plastic bags and dispose of it in the trash.
• Sweep and shovel dirt and place it in the trash.
• Wash water must be discharged to the sanitary sewer through a City approved sand/oil interceptor.
• Uncontaminated ice water may be discharged to landscaped areas.

Truck trailer, interior cleaning (food related) with or without soap

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain or street.
• Seal storm drains with an impervious material, before the washing process begins.
• Pretreatment of all wash water through a sand/oil interceptor is required before discharge to the sanitary sewer.
• Use dry cleaning methods. Sweep, shovel and dispose of debris as trash.
• Use a wash rack to capture wash water.

Grocery carts - without soap

• Direct wash water to landscaped areas or sanitary sewer.
• Seal storm drains with a fabric filter to remove dirt, trash and other debris.
• Before washing begins, sweep, shovel and dispose of debris in the trash.

Grocery carts - with soap

• Wash water is not allowed in the storm drain or street.
• Seal storm drains with an impervious material, before the washing process begins.
• Collect all wash water. Vacuum or pump the water to a holding tank for analyses and disposal.
• Contained wash water may be discharged to the sanitary sewer or landfill.
• If wastewater is contained on-site for later removal, it must be picked up by an authorized Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste Hauler.

Training

• Train personnel on the safety, use and waste practices of cleaning chemicals and materials.
• Develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan.

If a spill occurs:

• Stop the source of the spill immediately.
• Contain the liquid until cleanup is complete.
• Deploy containment booms, if the spill may reach a storm drain, wash or the street.
• Cover a liquid spill with an absorbent material.
• Keep the area well ventilated.
• Dispose of clean-up materials properly.
• Do not use emulsifiers or dispersing agents.

Storm Drains Are For Rain Water, Pure And Simple.

City of Phoenix
STREET TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
MIKE LOFFA, SR. QUALITY WATER INSPECTOR
200 W. WASHINGTON ST., 5TH FLOOR
PHOENIX, AZ 85003
(602) 256-3190

Upon request, the Street Transportation Department will make this publication available through appropriate auxiliary aids or services to accommodate an individual with a disability by calling 602-256-3190; or faxing a request to 602-495-2016.

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