CREATING YOUR OWN BERM

Materials Needed:

• A large bath or beach towel
• Bucket with water
• Plastic garbage bag
• Weighted object such as a garbage can

Once your materials are together, you are ready to create a berm to pool any car wash water and prevent contaminated water from entering the storm drain in your neighborhood.

STEP 1. Roll up the length of the towel tightly.

STEP 2. Soak the towel.

STEP 3. Place the length of the rolled towel into the plastic garbage bag. Tie the open end of the garbage bag.

STEP 4. Place your berm on a flat surface where you plan for the water to pool. Press berm down fully to create a seal with the ground.

STEP 5. Place your garbage can or heavy object behind the berm to secure the berm from the weight of the pooling water.

STEP 6. Redirect the pooled water to a permeable surface or landscaping. If using a hand siphon pump, siphon water into a bucket and dispose of dirty water into sink or sanitary sewer.

STEP 7. To ensure soap and other pollutants are collected, rinse pooled area once the wash water has been pumped or redirected from the berm.