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Home My Public Portal AboutCommercial BrochureWHO CAN YOU CONTACT? liNt It REPORT ILLEGAL DUMPING To file a report, visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental Report Form website: http://www.d o r.mo.gov/ concern.htm REPORT A SPILL National Response Center 800-424-8802 Missouri Department of Natural Resources 573-634-2436 Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District 314-768-6260 OTHER LINKS GeesePeace of St. Louis http://www.geesepeacestlouis.org Phone: 314-567-2081 RECYCLING CENTERS St. Louis County Dept. of Health Recycling Directory http://www.stlouisco.com/ doh/environ/recycler/ recycler.html (314)615-8958 STORMWATER PERMITTING Stormwater permit forms are on the MDNR website: www.dnr.state.mo.us/ oac/forms/index.html Scroll down to "Storm Water" Missouri Commercial Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage or Disposal Facilities http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/alpd/hwp/enforce.ntm#Comtac Missouri Department of Natural Resources, List of Publications http://www.dnr.mo.gov/oac/pubs.htm QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Contact Kathy Thornburgh Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (314) 436-8712 Credits United States Environmental Protection Agency Brochure After the Storm" EPA 833-B-03-002 Photo of car being washed: http.//wwwepa.nsw.gov.au/stormwater/ TO THE STORM DRAIN 2004 Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Brochure by Jim Vilbert NNW r Stormwater runoff occurs when rain falls or snow melts and flows over the surface of the ground. Hard surfaces like rooftops, driveways, sidewalks,and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. STORMWATER RUNOFF Stormwater runoff can pick up soil, trash, fertilizers, chemicals and other debris, and carry it into a storm sewer, which transports it directly to a lake, stream, river or wetland. Anything that enters a storm sewer goes untreated into the same waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water. I, I Polluted stormwater runoff can adversely affect plants, fish, animals, and people. Sediment can cloud the water and destroy habitat necessary for many organisms that are important for a healthy ecosystem. Excess nutrients from fertilizers can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose resulting in low oxygen levels in the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive in water with low oxygen levels. `=* Bacteria and other pathogens from animal and human sources can wash into our streams and create a health hazard. Trash, such as plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts, that wash into streams and rivers can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. Hazardous wastes such as insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water. Polluted stormwater can affect drinking water sources, which directly impacts human health. COMMERCIAL SOURCES Dirt, oil and trash that collect in parking lots and paved areas can be carried by stormwater runoff into a storm sewer and eventually reach local waterbodies. Sweep up litter, trash and dirt from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, especially from around storm drains. ▪ Keep lids closed on grease storage containers and trash dumpsters so stormwater will not be contaminated. Ensure the containers are not leaking. Businesses and local governments should provide an adequate number of appropriately -sized containers. Owners of commercial dumpsters should be certain their containers are of adequate size to handle the waste they generate. Trash receptacles and dumpsters should be emptied on an appropriate schedule. • Keep chemicals and other materials stored onsite under cover to prevent contaminating runoff. ▪ Use all chemicals responsibly and properly dispose of wastes. J Ensure the proper disposal of all wastewater into the sanitary sewer. Report any chemical or oil spill to emergency response agencies. Be prepared for spill incidents to keep spills from harming the environment. At this location, stormwater washes spilled trash under the fence directly into a creek channel. CONSTRUCTION Erosion controls that aren't maintained can cause large amounts of sediment to be carried into the stormwater system. Construction vehicles can leak fuel or oil that can also be picked up by stormwater and carried to local waterbodies. • Minimize the amount of exposed soil and divert stormwater away from disturbed or exposed areas of the construction site. ▪ Install best management practices such as silt fences, vegetative cover, and other sediment and erosion controls, and properly maintain them, especially after rainstorms. • Wash mud from vehicles in areas where the wash water will not enter the storm sewer or run to a nearby waterbody. • Properly dispose of trash and other wastes. All normal aquatic life in this stream is dead and it will take several years to recover. This problem is due to soil erosion from a nearby construction project AUTOMOTIVE Uncovered fueling stations offer no protection from contaminating stormwater. Spilled fuel can be washed directly to storm drains and into creeks and rivers. Cars and trucks waiting to be repaired can leak gasoline and oil, which also can be picked up by stormwater. Provide cover over fueling stations and provide for spill containment. • Install and maintain oil -water separators. • Clean up spills immediately and properly dispose of cleanup materials. Properly maintain fleet vehicles to collect oil, gas and antifreeze, and prevent these pollutants from being washed into local waterbodies. i Properly dispose of all waste. VEHICLE WASHING Washing vehicles where the wastewater goes down the storm sewer sends grease, oil and other contaminants directly into creeks, streams and other local waterbodies. It has the same effect as parking your car in a stream and washing it there. This is illegal without wastewater treatment and a permit from MDNR. Vehicles should be washed at a commercial wash, or other properly designed facility, that treats its wastewater before sending it to the sanitary sewer. Commercial washes trap oil, grease and sediments and prevent it from passing into the sewer system. ANIMALS KENNELS AND STABLES Clean animal living quarters to collect and properly dispose of waste. Do not wash animal waste into storm drains. Avoid animal waste contaminating stormwater by diverting runoff and by covering stalls. Use best management practices, such as vegetated filter strips to protect waterways. GEESE Business parks and recreation areas provide everything Canada Geese are looking for, resulting in a soaring population of geese. The droppings from large numbers of geese will elevate bacteria levels (fecal coliform) and become a source of excessive nutrients in stormwater retention ponds, and nearby creeks and streams. Organizations such as GeesePeace of St. Louis offer training in humanitarian methods of curtailing the Canada Geese population. You can find a link to their website on the next page.