Pollution Prevention For Contractors

Drain Inlet

Preventing Runoff
Runoff from streets and other paved areas is a major source of pollution in Rocklin. Both large and small construction activities can directly affect the health of our creeks and waterways unless contractors, crews, and property owners plan ahead to keep dirt, debris, and other construction waste away from storm drains, local creeks, and open space areas. Following the guidelines below will ensure your compliance with the City of Rocklin's permit requirements, Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Grading ordinances and avoid "Stop Work" orders or even fines.

Non-Hazardous Materials Management

Sweep streets and other paved areas daily. Don't wash down streets or work areas with water.

Use (but don't overuse) water for dust control as needed.
Sand, dirt, mulch and similar materials must be stored off the street, at least 10 feet from catch basins, and covered with a tarp during wet weather or when rain is forecast.

Recycle all asphalt, concrete, and aggregate base material from demolition activities.
Check dumpsters regularly for leaks and to make sure they don't overflow. Repair or replace leaking dumpsters promptly.
Stabilize and maintain the construction site entrances and exits to minimize the tracking of mud and dirt onto public roads by construction vehicles.

Spill Prevention and Control

Place toilets in a flat area well away from street and drain inlets, anchoring them prevent tipping or blowing over.
All chemicals or hazardous materials must be stored using a secondary containment (e.g., in pans or tubs).

Keep a stockpile of spill cleanup materials (rags, absorbents, etc.) available at the construction site at all times.

When spills or leaks occur, contain them immediately and be particularly careful to prevent leaks and spills from reaching the gutter, street, or storm drain. Never wash spilled material into a gutter, street, storm drain, or creek!

Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance & Cleaning
Inspect vehicles and equipment for leaks frequently. Use drip pans to catch leaks until repairs are made and repair leaks promptly.
Fuel and maintain vehicles on site only in a bermed area or over a drip pan that is big enough to prevent runoff.
If you must clean vehicles or equipment on site, clean with water only in a bermed area that will not allow rinse water to run into gutters, streets, storm drains, or creeks.

Dewatering Operations

Drain Outlet

Filtration or diversion through a dewatering pit, tank or sediment trap may be required before discharging water to a street, gutter or storm drain.

In areas of known contamination, testing is required prior to reuse or discharge of groundwater. Consult with the City Inspector to determine what testing to do and to interpret results. Contaminated groundwater must be treated or hauled off-site for proper disposal.


Fiber RollEarthwork and Contaminated Soils
Keep excavated soil on the site where it is least likely to collect in the street. Transfer to dump trucks should take place on the site, not in the street.
Use fiber rolls, silt fences, or other control measures to minimize the flow of silt off the site.
Avoid scheduling earth moving activities during the rainy season.

Mature vegetation is the best form of erosion control. Minimize disturbance to existing vegetation whenever possible. Use vegetation for erosion control, not as a filtration device for contaminants.
If you suspect contamination (from site history, discoloration, odor, texture, abandoned underground tanks or pipes, or buried debris), call the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) for help in determining what testing should be done.

Paving / Asphalt Work
Do not pave during wet weather or when rain is forecast.
Always cover storm drain inlets and manholes when paving or applying seal coat, tack coat, slurry seal, or fog seal.
Place drip pans or absorbent material under paving equipment when not in use.
Protect gutters, ditches, and drainage courses with gravel bags or fiber rolls.
Don't sweep or wash down excess sand from sand sealing into gutters, storm drains, or creeks. Collect sand and return it to the stockpile, or dispose of it as trash.

Don't use water to wash down fresh asphalt concrete pavement.

Saw Cutting
Always completely cover or barricade storm drain inlets when saw cutting. Use filter fabric or gravel bags to keep slurry out of the storm drain system.
Shovel, absorb, or vacuum saw-cut slurry and pick up all waste as soon as you are finished in one location or at the end of each work day, whichever is sooner.

If saw cut slurry enters a catch basin, call the Department of General Services at (916) 625-5500, and clean it up immediately.

Painting
Never rinse paint, paint brushes or materials in a gutter or street; use an on-site paint wash out or dispose of as hazardous waste.
Paint out excess water-based paint before rinsing brushes, rollers, or containers.
Paint out excess oil-based paint before cleaning brushes in thinner.

Filter paint thinners and solvents for reuse whenever possible. Dispose of oil-based paint sludge and unusable thinner as hazardous waste.

Silt Fence Concrete, Grout, and Mortar Storage & Waste Disposal
Be sure to store concrete, grout, and mortar under cover and away from drainage areas. These materials must never reach a storm drain.
Wash out concrete equipment and trucks off-site or designate an on-site area for washing where water will flow into a temporary plastic-lined pit. Let the water evaporate, or collect the wash water and remove it for appropriate disposal off-site, then dispose of hardened concrete with trash.

Divert water from washing exposed aggregate concrete to a dirt area where it will not run into a gutter, street or storm drain. If a suitable dirt area is not available, collect and filter the wash water through a gravel dam before discharging to a storm drain.


Report Illegal Dumping
Our inspectors and maintenance crews are on the look-out for possible illegal dumping into the city storm drain system. Click here to report an incident of illegal dumping into a storm drain or call the Department of Public Services at 916.625.5500.

City of Rocklin City of Rocklin, 3970 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA, 95677 | Placer County
Phone 916.625.5000 | Fax 916.625.5095 | TTY 916.632.4013

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