'No Dumping' - Help minimize introduction of pollutants into storm drains Published Oct. 14, 2008 By the 305th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight and Horizontal shop McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- You may have noticed over the summer that "No Dumping" markers have appeared on the storm drain inlets on base. The markers were placed by summer hires in the 305th Civil Engineer Environmental Flight and Horizontal shop. These markers, or ones very much like them, have been installed around the nation as a method to help prevent the pollution of our waterways. McGuire AFB has installed them as a best management practice: a passive method to help halt pollution. You may be aware that in most parts of the country, there is a requirement to have a permit to discharge storm water from industrial sites into streams. New Jersey is no different. McGuire has such a permit from the state of New Jersey. This permit covers the discharge of storm water from all areas of our base. What this means to you as a base resident or employee is that there are restrictions as to what can and cannot be done on base. These restrictions are spelled out in our discharge permit. The permit describes what types of non-storm water discharges are allowed to go down a storm drain. What is allowed is non-contaminated potable water, meaning drinking water with no soap, oil, or other contaminants, storm water, firefighting water and that's it. That's why when you have a car wash as a fundraiser for your squadron, you should call the 305th CES at (609) 754-2388 to find out the best place to have it. Typically, they are allowed to occur only in wash racks. Parking lots are not good because most of our parking lots have storm drains and the soapy wash water would go directly into our streams. This is also why there is no maintenance of vehicles allowed outdoors. This is why privately-owned vehicles and equipment cannot be washed anywhere on base, unless it is in a wash rack. Speaking of our streams, did you know that they all drain out to the Delaware River? Did you know that South Run and North Run flow into Oakford Lake in New Egypt, N.J., which turns into the main stem of Crosswicks Creek, through Crosswick Creek County Park, into the town of Crosswicks, N.J.? Larkin's Run to the south of the base flows through Lumberton, N.J., joins up with Rancocas Creek and on into the Delaware. If we pollute our storm water, we affect more than just this base. We can affect the beaches in Oakford Lake, the park, the towns downstream, the Delaware fishery and even the Delaware Bay. This is why there are regulations in place, why we have a permit to discharge and why we must do everything we can to prevent the discharge of contaminants. For those of you who live in housing, we have to restrict what can and cannot be done, just like on the main part of the base because of our permit. For those of you who live out in the community, depending on where you live, there may be restrictions on things like outdoor vehicle maintenance, vehicle and building washing, pool drain water, etc. No matter where you live, it is a good idea to minimize the introduction of pollutants into storm drains. The following guidelines are provided to help minimize the impact of day-to-day activities on our waterways. Do: -Clean up pet waste when walking pets; flush down toilet or throw in trash. -Drain pool water to the sanitary sewer, if possible, rather than onto the lawn to keep the soapy water away from storm drains. -Keep all chemicals properly stored under cover to prevent exposure to precipitation. -Use a commercial car wash or wash POVs on lawns and use wash racks for all government vehicles. -Maintain vehicles free from leaks. -Select native plants and grasses that are drought and pest tolerant. Native plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides. -Reduce the amount of paved or impervious surfaces and increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard. Install a rain garden, direct down spouts away from paved/impervious surfaces and onto lawns to increase infiltration of the water. -Recycle used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations or retailers that sell the fluids. Some local communities have free recycling drop-off locations. -Clean paint brushes in a sink connected to the sanitary sewer, not outdoors. Filter and reuse paint thinner when using oil based paint. Better yet, use latex paint whenever possible. -Sweep up yard debris. Do not blow debris into streets. Compost or recycle yard waste when possible. Don't: -Do not dump anything down a storm drain. -Do not throw trash, including cigarette butts, outside your car. Put litter in its place. -Do not perform vehicle maintenance outdoors, if possible. -Do not use too much fertilizer or pesticides. Don't apply when forecast calls for precipitation. -Do not connect rain gutters or sump pumps to a sanitary sewer. -Do not store chemicals outside in the weather. -Do not leave drip pans out in the rain; do empty them when they are full. -Do not blow yard debris into streets; compost or recycle yard waste when possible. -Do not flush spilled material down the storm drain. Use an absorbent, sweep it up and dispose of it properly.