General Business Brochure
Contact Information
Report improper discharges into the storm sewer to:
Adams County Stormwater Hotline
Ph: 720.523.6400
Email: swq@adamscountyco.gov
Report emergencies to 911 immediately.
- Dumping into storm drains
- Illegal connections into ditches or ponds
- Pollutants leaking from dumpsters
- Trash or yard waste along waterways
- Sanitary overflows
General Businesses & Pollution Prevention
Storage Areas
- Protect materials and waste storage areas from the rain. Prevent spills from reaching the storm drain.
- Keep lids on barrels and containers. Store them indorrs or under a cover to eliminate exposure to rain or snow.
- Cover and provide secondary containment to materials and containers stored outside.
- Take precautions and protect storm drains when handling bulk liquid materials.
- Contain and cover stockpiles.
Dumpster Area
- Do not overfill the dumpster. Use the correct size dumpster for your establishment. Overflowing dumpsters indicate that you need a larger size or more frequent collection. If dumpster is full, call your solid waste hauler.
- Close dumpster lids to keep rain out and trash in.
- Don’t wash out dumpsters or dumpster area. Use dry-cleaning methods and sweeping.
- Dumpsters are not watertight. Never dispose of liquids in the dumpster. Use bags and seal liquid waste before placing into dumpster.
Drainage
- Maintain private storm drainage structures.
- Repair erosion.
- Re-vegetate bare soil areas.
- Jet and vacuum private storm inlets and pipes.
- Limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides to avoid algae blooms downstream.
Pollution Prevention for Businesses
Store managers need to understand that interior drains discharge into the sanitary sewer, but outdoor drains discharge directly into the environment. Outdoor cleaning activities may become an illicit discharge. Adams County prohibits illicit discharges into the storm sewer. Implementation of good practices will help keep our stormwater clean.
Visit www.colorado.gov for Pollution Prevention (P2) information and grants for businesses.
Employee Training
- Inform employees about: building layout, outdoor drainage pattern, potential pollution sources, waste disposal practices, location of Safety Data Sheets and clean-up kits.
- Ensure contractors, landscapers, pressure washers, and painters, are aware of their responsibility to protect stormwater.
Parking Lots
- Keep outdoor areas free from spills, leaks, trash, dirt, litter, grass clippings and debris.
- Limit application of sand/salt, deicer, fertilizer & pesticides. Follow application instructions.
- Inspect and sweep parking areas regularly.
- Keep spill kits available.
- Don’t park leaking vehicles/equipment outdoors.
- Perform maintenance and repair work inside.
- If a spill occurs, control, contain, and clean up using dry cleanup methods. Dispose of waste.
- Notify Adams County of spills in the storm sewer.
Cleaning
- Use non-toxic substitutes for chemicals.
- When draining fluids, use a drip pan and funnel to prevent any spills.
- Control trash, sweep & pick up litter often.
- Never wash spills from driveways or sidewalks! Use an absorbent material and a broom. Dispose of sweepings in the trash.
- Wash vehicles & equipment in a wash bay or where water drains to the sanitary sewer.
- Collect wastewater from pressure-washing activities. If hiring services, make sure they collect wastewater.
- Only rain down the storm drain. No wastewater, process water, potable water, fire suppression water, swimming pool water, HVAC or boiler cleaning water down the storm drain.
