Pollution Prevention for Construction Sites

Some common sources of pollutants from construction sites include:

Sediment
Concrete and grout
Paints, lacquers, and primers
Cleaning solvents
Soaps and detergents
Wood preservatives
Equipment fuels, lubricants, coolants, and hydraulic fluids
Pesticides

Runoff (stormwater and non-stormwater) from construction sites can be a major source of these pollutants, and once released, these harmful pollutants can be transported to our City and County channels and the ocean.

Construction

Here are tips for construction sites to help keep our waterways clean:

Store materials under cover, with temporary roofs or plastic sheets, to eliminate or reduce the possibility that the materials can be carried from the project site to streets, storm drains or adjacent properties via rainfall, runoff or wind
Before starting construction, cover nearby storm drain inlets
Use an absorbent material such as cat litter to soak up spills, then sweep and dispose in the trash.

Use the following guidance manual developed by the Orange County Stormwater Program to assist construction projects with understanding how to comply with local and state stormwater runoff requirements.