Gasoline Stations

It is illegal to allow anything other than rain water to be discharged to a storm drain.

Never allow spills or leaks that occur during vehicle and equipment fueling to be transported to a street, gutter, parking lot, or storm drain. If discharged or disposed of improperly, materials such as hydrocarbons, oil and grease, and heavy metals can be harmful to water quality and creek habitats.

Individuals and businesses that improperly handle, dispose of, or fail to control any non-stormwater materials down the storm drain are both subject to civil and criminal prosecution.

Best Practices:

• Check and clean your property regularly.
• Use dry cleanup methods (i.e. broom or vacuum). Don’t hose down or pressure wash areas.
• Immediately clean up wet or oily spots with rags and absorbent or a designated mop.
• Pour mop wash water into an inside drain.
• Never dispose of hazardous materials like oil, solvents, or grease down an indoor mop sink or toilet.
• Never put saturated rags or absorbent used to clean up hazardous materials in the garbage. They must be properly disposed of as hazardous waste.
• Store materials inside or under a cover.
• Label storm drain inlets with simple messaging such as “No Dumping, Drains to Creek” with a clear picture or symbol.

Wastewater Requirements

Commercial car washes must be plumbed to sanitary sewer and be pretreated with an oil/water separator.

If your gas station has a car wash a Wastewater Discharge Permit is required. Check with your local municipality for specific requirements. 

Inform Your Customers

• Post signs to inform customers that working on vehicles is prohibited. It’s the law, call the Police if customers don’t comply.
• Post signs informing people that dumping waste or littering on your property is illegal.
• Post signs at the fuel dispenser or fuel island warning vehicle operators against “topping off” of vehicle fuel tanks.
• Anything dumped at your site becomes your responsibility; make sure everything is disposed of properly to avoid violations.

Are You Ready to Respond to a Spill?

• Have a written plan.
• Train employees annually on storm water regulations, spill response, personal safety, and hazardous waste handling and disposal.
• Have spill cleanup materials onsite.
• Have Safety Data Sheets for all products used.

Report all spills to your local CUPA (Certified Unified Program Agencies) authority.

Releasing pollutants into the storm drain system or a waterway is prohibited by local ordinance, state, and federal law.