It is important for Seattle businesses to take steps to control the volume of runoff from their sites and to make sure that the stormwater is unpolluted when it enters the City's drainage system. Businesses can accomplish this by implementing the following best management practices. These measures reduce regulatory liability as well as prevent treatment and clean-up expenses.

Maintain your property

Make sure parking lots are swept and that any vehicle leaks are cleaned up promptly with rags. Be careful when washing or steam cleaning buildings, fences, floors, driveways, etc. Make sure that things like dirt, rust, paint chips, oil and soapy water do not get washed down storm drains.

Prepare a spill and clean-up plan

Prepare a spill control plan that includes a map of your facility, descriptions of potential spill scenarios, ways to avoid spills and specific clean up and safety instructions. Identify who will be in charge of cleaning up spills and who needs to be notified when spills occur. Then make sure you have the right clean up and safety equipment on hand and that employees are trained in its proper use and disposal. Go to spill kits for more information and to apply for a FREE kit and plan.

Clean and maintain your storm drains.

Cleaning and maintaining storm grates and catch basins keeps them working and helps to ensure that they won't back up and flood your property or send pollutants into our waterways. The City maintains public drainage structures, but businesses are responsible for the ones on their property. Make sure to remove leaves and trash from grates and regularly clean out solids from catch basins. Properly store indoor and outdoor containers. Spills and leaks can be avoided by storing materials away from the rain and where leaks and spills won't reach storm drains.  If your catch basins are more than 60% full, they should be cleaned so they don't back up and flood during the next rainstorm.  Contact a service company to have this done.

Move stored materials indoors or make sure they're properly covered.

Use suitable storage containers and put them in appropriate locations. For example, containers with liquids should be kept away from driveways and garage doors so they don't get knocked over.

Carefully wash vehicles and equipment.

When washing vehicles and equipment, make sure wash water is kept out of the storm drains. If you use a mobile washing service, make sure your contractor properly disposes of the wash water. When washing vehicles, wash with water only and never use hot or pressurized water. Try one of the waterless car cleaning products available on the market - it prevents pollution from entering the storm drains and saves water! You can also create a paved, temporary wash area by blocking off storm drains, using portable berms and recycling the wash water or pumping it to the sanitary sewer.