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Auto Repair
Shops
BMP IC-3 |
 This
Fact Sheet provides Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are recommended for
facilities that conduct auto repair and maintenance activities.
Potential
Pollutant Sources
The following activities are
potential sources of pollutants:
·
Automobile servicing
·
Parts cleaning
·
Materials and waste handling
·
Materials storage
·
Cleaning floors
Pollutants may include:
·
Heavy metals (copper, lead, nickel, and zinc)
·
Hydrocarbons (oil and grease, PAHs)
·
Toxic chemicals (solvents, chlorinated compounds, glycols)
·
Acids and alkalis
Pollution
Prevention
Implementation of pollution prevention measures may reduce
or eliminate the need to implement other more costly or complicated procedures.
The following pollution prevention principles apply to most
facilities:
·
Use alternative, safer, non-toxic, and/or recycled products;
·
Reduce storm water flow across the site and redirect flows away
from storm drains, gutters, and streets;
·
Reduce the use of water and/or use dry methods;
·
Minimize use of solvents – use water-based solvents for
cleaning, if possible;
·
Recycle and reuse waste products and waste flows; and
·
Provide on-going employee training.
Best
Management Practices and Procedures
GENERAL
►
If water is being used for cleaning shop floors and adjacent
outdoor areas, contain the wash water and dispose of in the sanitary sewer (with
permission of sewer provider) or for offsite disposal, do not dispose of in the
storm drain, gutter, or street.
►
Maintain facility grounds and move or cover activities and
materials to prevent contact with storm water.
►
Use a vehicle maintenance area designed to prevent storm water
pollution – minimize contact of storm water with outside operations through
berming and appropriate drainage routing.
►
Inspect and clean leaks and drips routinely.
Leaks are not cleaned up until the absorbent is picked up and disposed of
properly.
►
Manage materials and waste to reduce adverse impacts on stormwater
quality.
►
Label drains within the facility boundary, by paint/stencil (or
equivalent), to indicate whether they flow to an oil/water separator, directly
to the sewer, or to a storm drain.
►
Inspect and clean if necessary, storm drain inlets and catch
basins within the facility boundary before October 1 each year.
►
Sweep parking lots and areas around your facility instead of
washing them down with water.
►
Send dirty rags to an industrial laundry.
AUTOMOBILE SERVICING
►
Only conduct maintenance or repair work in designated areas with
spill containment.
■
Construct a berm or intercept trench at doorways to prevent the
run-on of uncontaminated storm water from adjacent areas as well as stormwater
runoff.
■
Avoid working over asphalt and dirt floors – surfaces that
absorb vehicle fluids.
►
Perform all vehicle fluid removal or changing inside or under
cover, if possible, to prevent the run-on of storm water and the runoff of
spills.
►
Keep a drip pan under the vehicle while unclipping hoses,
unscrewing filters, or removing other parts. Use a drip pan under any vehicle that might leak.
►
Use a tarp, ground cloth, or drip pans beneath the vehicle or
equipment to capture all spills and drips if temporary work is being conducted
outside. Collected drips and spills
must be disposed, reused, or recycled properly.
►
Keep equipment clean – do not allow excessive build-up of oil
and grease.
►
Monitor parked vehicles for leaks.
Pans should be placed under any leaks to collect the fluids for proper
disposal or recycling. Drain oil and other fluids first if the vehicle or equipment
is to be stored outdoors. Do not
allow leaking vehicles on-site.
►
Avoid soldering over drip tanks.
Sweep up drippings and recycle or dispose of as hazardous waste.
►
Sweep or use a vacuum to clean up dust and debris from scraping or
bead blasting radiators.
PARTS CLEANING
►
Clean vehicle parts without using liquid cleaners wherever
possible to reduce waste.
►
Steam cleaning and pressure washing may be used instead of solvent
parts cleaning. The wastewater
generated from steam cleaning must be discharged to an on-site oil/water
separator that is connected to a sanitary sewer or blind sump.
Never discharge wastewater from steam cleaning, or engine/parts cleaning
to a street, gutter, or storm drain.
►
Non-caustic detergents should be used instead of caustic cleaning
agents, detergent-based or water-based cleaning systems in place of organic
solvent degreasers, and non-chlorinated solvent in place of chlorinated organic
solvents for parts cleaning.
►
Designate specific areas or service bays for engine, parts, or
radiator cleaning. Do not wash or
rinse parts outdoors. Keep water
from flowing to storm drains, gutters, and streets.
►
Use self-contained sinks and tanks when working with solvents.
Keep sinks and tanks covered when not in use.
►
Rinse and drain parts over the solvent sink or tank.
Use drip boards or pans to catch excess solutions and divert them back to
a sink or tank.
►
Inspect degreasing solvent sinks regularly for leaks and make
necessary repairs immediately.
►
Allow parts to dry over the hot tank.
If rinsing is required, rinse over the tank as well.
►
Collect and reuse parts cleaning solvents and water used in
flushing and testing radiators. When
reuse is no longer possible, these solutions may be hazardous wastes, and must
be disposed properly.
►
Rinse water may only be discharged to the sanitary sewer with
adequate treatment and approval (with permission of sewer provider).
MATERIALS AND WASTE
HANDLING
►
Label all hazardous wastes according to hazardous waste
regulations.
►
Keep lids on waste barrels and containers and store them indoors
or under cover to reduce exposure to rain and prevent spills from reaching the
sanitary sewer or storm drain, gutter, and street.
►
Do not pour liquid waste to floor drains, sinks, outdoor storm
drain inlets, or other storm drains or sewer connections.
►
Do not leave drip pans or other open containers lying around.
►
Recycle oil.
►
Store cracked batteries in a non-leaking secondary container and
dispose of properly at recycling or household hazardous waste facilities.
►
Store waste containers of antifreeze and oil within secondary
containment. Antifreeze and waste
oil should be stored separately and recycled, or disposed of as hazardous waste.
►
Ask your supplier for information on less toxic chemical cleaners
and other products.
►
Label and track the recycling of waste material (e.g. used oil,
spent solvents, batteries).
MATERIALS STORAGE
►
Double-contain all bulk fluids to prevent accidental discharges.
►
Store new batteries securely to avoid breakage and acid spills.
Store used batteries indoors and in plastic trays to contain potential
leaks.
CLEANING FLOORS
►
Collect all metal filings, dust, and paint chips from grinding,
shaving, and sanding, and dispose of waste properly.
Collect all dust from brake pads separately and dispose of the waste
properly. Never sweep these wastes
outside.
►
Use dry cleaning methods (i.e. sweeping, vacuuming) to prevent the
discharge of pollutants into the storm drain conveyance system.
►
If cleaning agents are used, select biodegradable products.
►
If water is used, block off storm drain or contain runoff and
collect wash water to pump to the sanitary sewer, if allowed.
If wash water does not contain soap or other cleaning agents, discharge
to a pervious surface. If wash water contains soaps or other cleaning agents and can
not be pumped to the sanitary sewer, it may need to be disposed of as hazardous
waste.
►
Consider using an oleophilic mop (picks up oil and not water) to
reduce the volume of waste liquids you collect and reduce your cost for
disposal.
SPILL CONTROL
►
Develop and maintain a spill response plan.
►
Place an adequate stockpile of spill cleanup materials where it
will be readily accessible.
►
Spot clean leaks and drips routinely.
►
Clean leaks, drips, and other spills with as little water as
possible. Use rags for small
spills, a damp mop for general cleanup, and dry absorbent material for larger
spills.
►
Remove the absorbent materials promptly and dispose of properly.
►
Minimize the distance between waste collection points and storage
areas.
►
Contain and cover all solid and liquid wastes – especially
during transfer.
►
Keep the spill from entering the street, gutter, or storm drain.
►
Do not use bleach or disinfectants if there is a possibility that
rinse water could flow to a street, gutter, or storm drain.
Employee
Training
·
Train employees on these practices.
·
Train staff on the proper maintenance of the facility.
·
Train employees on the facility’s spill control plan and proper
spill containment and cleanup procedures.
·
Establish a regular training schedule, train all new employees,
and conduct annual refresher training.
·
Use a training log or similar method to document training.
PHONE NUMBERS
San Joaquin County Stormwater Management 468-3055
San Joaquin County Sanitary Sewer Agency 468-3090
City of Stockton Stormwater Management
937-8791 City of Stockton Sanitary Sewer Agency
937-8750
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