Discharge from business and industry can be a major source of water pollution.  Even well run and otherwise clean enterprises sometimes misuse the storm drain system. 

The good news is that following a few simple guidelines can make a big difference in keeping the water in our streams and rivers clean:

• Nothing should go in the storm drain but runoff from rainfall or irrigation.  Liquid or solid waste should never be disposed of using the storm drain system.
  
• Never empty mop buckets where the they will waste water will flow into a storm drain.
  
• Don't hose down outdoor spills.  Instead, use a mop, rags or absorbent materials such as kitty litter.
  
• Restaurants should take care to properly dispose of cooking oils and greases.  These materials should always be placed in a tallow bin, and never poured down storm drains. 
  
• Care should be taken with garbage dumpsters.  Liquids should not be placed in dumpsters, and the drains in the bins should be kept closed.
  
• Business owners should never attempt to wash out their own dumpsters.  This task should be referred to the solid waste hauler.
  
• If it is necessary to wash down materials with a hose or with with steam, a wash pad should be constructed with a drain that connects to the sanitary sewer system. 
  
• Materials such as concrete, mortar, stucco and tile grout should never be washed down the storm drain system.
  
• Care should be taken with materials stored outdoors to make sure that rainwater will not wash them into the storm drain system. 
  
• Storm drain inlets should be clearly marked so employees don't misuse them. 
  
• Runoff from parking lots should be controlled.  Large lots should always drain into a catch basins or oil-water separators before the water enters the storm drains.
  
• Remember that water quality is everybody's business!