NCS000422_SOP For Building and Ground Maintenance_20200218

Standard Operating Procedure for Buildings & Grounds Maintenance
Summary
Stormwater runoff from buildings and grounds maintenance activity can be contaminated with
toxic hydrocarbons in solvents, fertilizers and pesticides, suspended soils, heavy metals and
abnormal pH. Utilizing best practices for buildings and grounds maintenance will prevent or
reduce the amount of the pollutants entering the stormwater system.
Target Pollutants
• Sediment
• Nutrients
• Trash/Litter
• Metals
• Bacteria
• Oil/Grease
• Organics
• Oxygen demanding
Pollution Prevention
• If at all possible, use non -toxic chemical in maintenance activities
• Choose agents/materials which can be recycled
• Select native plants when available/practical
• Utilize integrated pest management practices
• Always recycle or properly dispose of residual paints, solvent, oils, etc.
Pressure Washing Buildings
• When pressure washing involving soaps or detergents are needed, the pressure washer
must collect waste water and the associated solids. A wet vac, or similar device, should
be used to collect runoff and loose material.
Landscaping
• Do not apply any insecticides, herbicides, or fertilizer directly on to surface waters.
• Never dispose of grass clippings, leaves, sticks or other collected vegetation into the
bodies of waters or open channels.
• Use mattings, plantings and other sedimentation control measures on exposed soils
during the normal course of work
• Check watering/irrigation schedules to ensure pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers will not
be washed into the stormwater system or surrounding surface waters.
Building Repair, Remodeling and Construction

• Do no dump anything other than clean water, onto the pavement, the ground or toward a
storm drain.
• Use a drop cloth underneath outdoor painting activity, scraping and sandblasting work.
Properly dispose of the material.
• Use a drop cloth or tub under activities such as paint mixing or tool cleaning
• Use a storm drain cover, filter fabric if dust, grit, wash water, or other pollutants may
escape the work area and entertain a drain/catch basin. The containment devices must be
in place at the beginning of the work day and accumulated dirty runoff or solids must be
collected and disposed of before removing the containment devices at the end of the work
day.
• Clean paint brushes and tools covered with water -based paints in sinks connected to
sanity sewers or in portable containers that can be dumped into a sanitary sewer drain.
Brushes and tools covered with non -water based paints, finishes or other material must be
cleaned in the manner than enables collect of used solvents (e.g., paint thinner) for
recycling or proper disposal.
• Store toxic materials under cover with secondary containment during precipitation events
and when not in use.
Mowing, Trimming and Planting
• Dispose of leaves, sticks or other collected vegetation as garbage, by composting or at a
permitted landfill.
• Use mattings, plantings and other sedimentation control measures on exposed soils
during the normal course of work
• Place temporarily stockpiled materials away from streams and rivers, drain inlets and
cover the materials to prevent releases into the stormwater system.
Fertilizer and Pesticide Management
• Follow all local, state and federal laws regarding use, storage, and disposal of fertilizers
and pesticides.
• Follow all state and federal laws regarding training of applicators of pesticides.
• Follow manufactures recommendations and directions.
• Pesticides must never be applied if precipitation is occurring or predicted.
• Do not apply insecticides within 100 feet of any surface water.
• Use the minimum amount to achieve the desires effect
• Calibrate distributors to avoid excessive application
• Do not apply pesticides when it is windy
• Work fertilizers into the soil instead of dumping or broadcasting onto the surface
• Irrigate/water slowly to reduce runoff.
• Do no overwater/irrigate
• Implement storage requirements for pesticides and provide secondary containment if
possible

Implementation Status
Most of these practices are well established. Items in italic are being explored for
implementation/improvement.