Industries

Industrial facilities can do their part to reduce stormwater pollution.

Snow and Ice Removal

When using road salt and other de-icers, melting snow carries those chemicals into waterways. These chemicals should be used carefully and applied them sparingly. When purchasing, read the labels on de-icing products and choose those that are not toxic to animals and plants. 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has some guidelines on where and how to store road salt to protect our waterways.

What’s wrong with salt and de-icer in our water?

SALT in our fresh water is not good for plants, wildlife, or people. Birds can mistake salt crystals for food, eating them and getting sick. Salt can be toxic to fish and others in aquatic systems. Salt is not good for our plants, and in many wetlands salt-tolerant invasives are crowding out our native vegetation, which then affects the wildlife that lose their food sources. And of course salt in our water supplies is not good for us -- we all know that salt is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Salt includes sodium chloride, as well as calcium and magnesium chloride.
 
Some use SAND, and while it doesn’t carry chemicals into our waterways, it does clog catch basins and cause flooding. It can also carry other pollutants into our waterways. If used, excess sand should be swept up.
 
DE-ICER is a preferable alternative to both salt and sand, but it is still not perfect, and should be used smartly and sparingly. De-icers include Sodium or Potassium Acetate and Calcium Magnesium Acetate.
 

What can YOU do to keep your pavement safe while also keeping your water clean?

• Shovel early and often. Remove as much snow and ice as you can, and only use de-icer on what you can’t take care of with a shovel.
• Follow product instructions and only use as much de-icer as you need. More is not better.
• Remove slush when de-icer has done its job.
• For heavy snowfalls, shovel early and often to avoid the snow compacting and forming ice.
• For wet snow or sleet and freezing rain, apply de-icer product early on to prevent snow from bonding or ice from building up.

Best Management Practices for General Industrial Activities

Best Management Practices for the Restaurant Industry

Did you know that anything washed down a storm drain flows directly into nearby rivers?  Restaurants can help to ensure that cleaning chemicals, cooking oil, grease, trash, and food waste are disposed of properly.  Click here to learn more.

Best Management Practices for the Automotive Industry

Improper disposal of automotive waste materials is harmful to the environment, hazardous to public health and violates state law.  Automotive industries include auto body & repair shops, car dealerships, gas stations, mobile fleet managers, and mobile fleet washing businesses. Best Management Practices include safe environmental procedures that protects public health and the environment.  

Parking Lot Maintenance

Permeable paving can be used for parking lots allowing the rain and melting snow to soak in rather than run off. Parking lots should be designed to drain into catch basins, filter strips, and stormwater ponds rather than directly into the storm sewer system. For more information, please click here. 

Waste and Material Storage

Rainwater that falls in dumpsters or onto raw materials can wash into storm drains, untreated. Dumpsters should be regularly inspected and any chemicals should be stored with a tight fitting lid. For more tips, please click here.

Is your dumpster or compactor creating stormwater pollution? Check out this Dumpster Maintenance Brochure for tips on doing your part to keep waterways clean. 

Equipment Maintenance

Gasoline, oil, and grease from equipment can flow untreated into storm drains and pollute waterways. Use drip pans to catch fluids and keep materials like sand and kitty litter on hand to help dry up small spills. Fix leaks and clean up all spills as soon as possible.