Cleaning Industry Questions & Answers (Q&A)
The following tips will help ensure that future generations will be able to use and enjoy our most valuable
resource … water!
Q:
What’s the difference between a storm drain and the sanitary sewer? I thought all the water went
to the same place.
A:
Actually, there is a critical difference between a storm drain and a sanitary sewer. Confusing the
two can cause damage to our creeks – and to every living thing that depends on them for drinking water,
habitat and recreation. Making sure your employees know the difference can help reduce your company’s
liability and protect the environment.
Storm drains are located outside (in streets, lawn areas, walkways and other outdoor areas) and are not
connected to the system of pipes that carries wastewater to a treatment plant. Anything dumped into
storm drains flows directly into nearby creeks. There it can harm fish and wildlife and impact our
recreation and drinking water. Nothing should enter storm drains except rain water.
Sanitary sewers are most often inside (toilets, sinks, bathtubs, showers, floor drains and clean-outs) and
are connected to the system of pipes that carries wastewater to a treatment plant. There, harmful materials
are removed so that the water leaving the plant is safe for the environment. Many properties also have
cleanouts located outdoors. These pipes, which usually come out of the ground a few inches and have a
screw-on cover, provide outdoor access to the sanitary sewer system.
Q:
Why now? Wastewater disposal hasn’t been an issue for me before.
A:
Clean water laws are not actually new. California Fish and Game Code 5650 is the oldest water
pollution law in the US, dating to 1872! One hundred years later (1972), Congress passed the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act. Later called the Clean Water Act, this law set water pollution standards for
the whole country. Since then, states, counties and cities have been working to implement and enforce
these laws. Four years ago, the State issued the City of Santa Rosa a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit which required the City to provide planning, education and
enforcement related to storm water. The City enacted a local ordinance (City Code Chapter 17-12 “Storm
Water”) to help our community with these challenges. This packet was created to help cleaning industry
professionals make pollution prevention practices part of their daily routines. We all need to work
together to make sure our creeks, rivers and oceans are kept clean and safe for the environment and our
families.
Q:
How much of a difference can one company or person make? In a typical day, I only dump a few
gallons of wash water down the gutters.
A:
Each one of us can make a difference in the quality of the water around us. What may seem like
only a few gallons actually adds up to more than you might think. Many people are surprised to learn that
the number one cause of water pollution in the nation—including here in Santa Rosa—isn’t large
factories or other industrial facilities, but the cumulative effect of urban runoff from thousands of homes,
cars, mechanic shops, farms, and, yes, even cleaning companies. Did you know that ammonia—used in
many cleaning products—is toxic to fish and stimulates abnormal algae and plant growth? Even dirt, dust
and sand (suspended solids) clog spawning areas for fish and bury their food sources, when washed into
waterways.
Q:
What about biodegradable soaps?
A:
Cleaning products labeled “biodegradable” eventually break down, but not before they can
be deadly to fish and other aquatic life. Because of their harmful effects to these creek inhabitants, they
must be kept out of storm drains and creeks.
Q:
This sounds like it might be a big hassle and cost a lot.
A:
Many in the cleaning industry are already using pollution prevention practices in their businesses.
These companies have already made the change to techniques and equipment that protect local creeks and
find them easy and effective. They’ve also discovered that pollution prevention is good for business.
Customers feel better knowing their contractors are cleaning their properties safely and legally.
Customers want unpolluted creeks for their families, too, and they know that if a violation is found on
their property, they could be held liable in addition to the cleaning company.
“Adopting clean water practices wasn’t as costly or difficult as we had thought, and the City was helpful
in getting us the information we needed to make the necessary changes. Now, everybody in our company
– from the office staff to the workers – works as a team to make sure we do each job right. Our customers
like knowing we’re a ‘green’ business, and we’re all proud of the work we do each day.”
–Kerry Price, North Bay Mobile Wash
Equipment needed for correct pollution prevention practices can range from “low-tech” and inexpensive
– like drain covers and wet vacs – to more expensive, depending on the type of work your company
performs. See Trade Associations at
right for more information.
With fines of up to $25,000 per violation per day, not doing it right is just not worth the risk.
Q:
Where do I start?
A:
All you need to do is complete and mail in the enclosed reply card or call the City’s Department
of Public Works at (707) 543-3800. We have staff training available, including a video and
demonstrations tailored to your business. We can also provide more copies of the materials you find in
this packet. The goal is for you to take the information you find relevant to your business and incorporate
it into your company’s ongoing operations and staff training. Every company and every job site is
different, so each new job will require careful thinking and planning to ensure that wastewater does not
go down the storm drain.
Below are some other numbers you can call for more information:
Government Agencies and Municipal Services
Emergency spills:
Call 911
Storm drain questions:
Inside Santa Rosa City Limits:
Santa Rosa Public Works: (707) 543-3800
Outside Santa Rosa City Limits
Sonoma County Environmental Health: (707) 565-6565
Additional copies of materials:
Santa Rosa Public Works: (707) 543-3800
Sanitary sewer discharge requirement questions:
Santa Rosa Subregional Industrial Waste Division: (707) 543-3369
Hazardous materials recycling and disposal
questions:
Sonoma County Ecodesk: (707) 565-DESK
Hazardous waste and materials management questions:
Inside Santa Rosa City Limits:
Santa Rosa Fire Department: (707) 543-3526
Outside Santa Rosa City Limits: Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services: (707) 565-1152
Dumpster service, cleaning or replacement:
Empire Waste Management: (707) 585-8848
Trade Associations
The following cleaning industry organizations
can refer you to vendors of wastewater collection, pre-treatment, and recycling equipment:
Cleaning Equipment Trade Association
(800) 433-9889
www.ceta.org
Power Washers of North America
(301) 941-1064
www.pwna.org
Carpet & Fabricare Institute
(800) CARPET-9.
The City of Santa Rosa does not endorse any
companies, associations or products.