A Tip-Top Car Shop Is Good for the Environment

Do you run an automotive shop? Here are a few things you should know about why you need to keep automotive pollutants out of the storm drain system.

• If you spill oil, that oil can leak into the storm drain. Chances are that this oil will eventually make its way to the storm drain, where it can negatively impact water quality. You can use shop rags or absorbent materials to soak up an oil spill on your property.



• Cracked car batteries are common. Left outside, these batteries can break down, crack and spill, potentially polluting local waters such as lakes, rivers and streams, causing stormwater pollution. That’s why it’s important to always keep car batteries in a safe location, indoors on an open rack.



• Auto fluids are bad for the environment. When you discharge your auto fluids, designate a spot well away from any storm drains, just in case there’s an accidental leak. Doing so will give you time to clean it up. And remember, all fluids you drain from your car, be they used motor oil, transmission fluid or antifreeze, be sure to recycle it.

For more information on how to keep your shop in tune to prevent stormwater pollution, check out the Stormwater Pollution Automotive Maintenance & Car Care pamphlet.

What to Do With Old Paint?

Spring is here and that means there are no more excuses for putting off some of that outside painting that needs to be done. Sure, a little paint job can seem like a chore, but it’s a necessary evil of sorts, as a fresh new coat of paint can bring something back to life again. And there are several reasons why you ought to be careful with your old leftover paint.

After you finish up your job you may realize that you have some paint you need to dispose of - or perhaps you just need to clean out the garage and have a few old cans to get rid of. Keeping that paint out of the trash, and most certainly out of the storm drain, is job number one. Paint can be a major pollutant, we call it a hazardous waste, and if not properly disposed of, can negatively impact waterways and ground water supplies.

That’s why we encourage proper disposal of paint and other hazardous waste. Riverside County has several certified collection centers that you can utilize to get rid of old paint, so find out where the closest one is to you. And while you are at it, why not bring along all the other household hazardous waste you no longer need, like pesticides, furniture polish, bleach, insecticides and more? In the future, consider purchasing less toxic materials to get the job done.

Here’s to a safe and productive spring cleaning (or painting)!

Why Picking Up After Your Dog Is So Important

It’s not a fun thing to see on the sidewalks or at a park, and if you have ever stepped on it, you sure know what we are talking about. Dog waste, it’s yucky and certainly not easy to clean off the sneakers!

But aside from being an eyesore and a sticky mess, unattended dog droppings can also be a major water pollutant. That’s right, there are even more reasons to detest pooch poop than you may have thought. And on top of adding bacteria and other gunk to stormwater runoff, which can impact those that come in contact with it downstream, other dogs that may get close are also at risk of catching crud. These include canine parvovirus, which can cause intestinal pain for your pet as well as severe vomiting and dysentery.

Bummer right? Well, yes it is, but fortunately there is something we can all do about it! It’s simple too: pick up after your pet! Want a little inspiration? Here’s a compelling video about why it is so important to gather your dog’s poop to help protect the environment and our furry little friends that we love so much.

Teachers: Here’s How to Celebrate World Water Day!

Water is the fruit of life and this month it’s time to honor it. On March 22nd, people all over the globe celebrated World Water Day in recognition of this crucial natural resource. That’s why now is the perfect time to give a little back to our community by participating in a local clean-up that will help improve local water quality.

World Water Day began in 1993 in response to a recommendation made by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Since then, World Water Day has brought much needed attention to importance of freshwater and has advocated for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year the day’s spotlight is not only on worldwide water issues, but also on its essential role in global food production. Without water, we can’t eat!

This is where the old adage “think globally act locally” has such relevance. Here in Riverside County we can appreciate how important water is to our daily lives. As such, we are careful not to overuse it or let it go to waste, and we ought to pass these beliefs on to younger generations.

Teachers in Riverside County have the opportunity to educate their students about these issues by receiving FREE stormwater pollution prevention presentation where the children in your class are directly engaged in a fun, creative, and educational way. And if you’d like to go the extra mile, you can then organize a local school litter cleanup and help reduce the trash that makes it to our storm drains! Please call (562) 597-0205 or send us an e-mail at vtrbusic@sga-inc.net to schedule an assembly.

World Water Day, like Earth Day, is really every day - thus far our program has educated over 5,600 students in Riverside County and with your help, we can make that number grow! Learn more about the program here .

BMPs to Prevent Pollution during Concrete and Mortar Application

Applying mortar or pouring cement can produce a lot of unwanted dust and other particles. This debris, if it makes its way to the stormwater system, can be very hazardous to water quality.

Not only that, but disposing of pollutants into the street or storm drain is illegal, and can result in penalties.

That’s why it is so important to properly clean up after you complete your construction project. In addition to the correct ways to clean up, there are other practices you can employ to reduce the amount of dust, soot and other potential pollutants that may result from your work.

Here are a few best practices:

• Minimize the amount of water used during any drilling process;



• Place a barrier of sandbags and absorbent berms around storm drains;



• Do not wash residue or particulate matter into the storm drain.

To learn more about why it is important to keep your worksite clean as well as how to do so, check out this informative pamphlet.