Eliminating connections to storm sewers is a critical step to ensuring that your business isn’t contributing to stormwater pollution.

• Check to ensure that you do not have connections that discharge to a stormdrain. If you do, arrange for disconnection.

For information about legal and illegal discharges, check out our Business Self-Inspection Checklist.

Examples of hazardous materials include: process chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, cleaning materials, waste materials, oil, and gasoline.

• Store hazardous materials under cover to keep them out of the rain and snow.


• Store them in a secondary containment system large enough to contain the material if the container began to leak. This can be as simple as putting materials in a bucket or basin.


• Keep hazardous materials away from any location where leaks could get into stormdrains or waterways (e.g. near sump pumps).


• Make a current spill response plan and train employees so that they are familiar with it.


• Keep dry, cleaning materials such as a broom, mop, saw dust, or kitty litter available for cleaning up spills. Do not use water to rinse off a spill.

For more information, check out our Business Self-Inspection Checklist.

These everyday practices will help keep your business from contributing to stormwater pollution:

• Ensure that dumpsters remain covered and leak-proof. Locate dumpsters away from storm drains, and keep the drain plugs in.


• Use a mop sink for cleaning floor mats and equipment. Pour wash water in the sink, not outside.


• Wash vehicles at a commercial car wash. If you must wash vehicles or equipment outdoors, use water only, not soap, wash on grassy areas, and divert water from stormdrains.


• Keep parking lot and service areas clean. Provide trash bins and empty them regularly. Divert water from loading docks.


• Keep wetlands and shoreline areas clean and in natural condition. Whenever possible, allow vegetation to grow into a natural buffer instead of mowing to wetland edges.


• Water wisely and limit fertilizer use. Consider replacing some lawn area with low-maintenance plantings.

For more information, check out our Business Self-Inspection Checklist.

Businesses offer a public face that makes them ideal to help lead the movement toward better stormwater management.

• Learn about the Blackstone River Coalition’s In Business For the Blackstone Program. This model can be used even for towns that aren’t located in the Blackstone River watershed.

For more detailed information about how to help a business become stormwater-friendly, check out our detailed plan, How You Can Help Businesses Become Stormwater-Friendly!