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For Businesses

Specific businesses can unknowingly have a direct impact on our creeks and streams. They can impact stormwater during day-to-day activities such as:

  • Cleaning equipment or buildings
  • Vehicle servicing and washing

  • Landscaping and grounds maintenance
  • Dealing with spills

We are here to help educate you about the rules and regulations surrounding your business and water quality issues.

Patio with seating outside of a restaurant.

All Businesses Can Protect Waterways

Daily operations at businesses can contaminate stormwater runoff with toxic chemicals, nutrients, and trash. Common sources of pollutants from businesses can include:

  • Receiving deliveries
  • Unpacking products
  • Indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: All Businesses Can Protect Waterways (English) / Todas las empresas pueden proteger las vías fluviales (Spanish).

Person cleaning a carpet with a brush.

Cleaning Services

Cleaning operations including pressure washing, carpet cleaning, and home cleaning services can contaminate stormwater runoff with sediment, detergents, oils, and toxic chemicals.

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: Carpet Cleaning (English) / Limpieza de alfombras (Spanish) / Cleaning Services (English) / Servicios de limpieza (Spanish).

Food truck.

Food Trucks

Contaminants from food trucks can pollute our waterways with food waste, oil, grease, detergents, and litter.

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: Food Trucks (English) / Camiones de alimentos (Spanish).

Man filling a vehicle with gas.

Gas Stations

Spills and leaks at gas stations can occur during fueling and contaminate stormwater runoff with toxic hydrocarbons, oil and grease, heavy metals, and other chemicals used as fuel additives.

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: Gas Stations (English) / Gasolineras (Spanish).

A person wearing gardening gloves and holding a rake puts dried leaves into a large paper yard waste bag.

Landscaping

Landscaping practices can contaminate stormwater runoff with sediment, nutrients, organic materials, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and oils. Common sources of pollutants from landscaping maintenance can include:

  • Vegetation installation and removal
  • Lawn mowing
  • Fertilizer and pesticide application
  • Irrigation

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: Landscaping (English) / Jardinería (Spanish).

A person in uniform uses a power washer to clean dirt from a brick pathway, the water spraying onto the adjacent grass.

Power Washing

Power washing operations can contaminate stormwater runoff with sediment, detergents, oils, trash, and toxic chemicals.

Read the stormwater protection poster to learn more: Power Washing (English) / Lavado mecánico (Spanish).

View into a restaurant kitchen.

Restaurants

Contaminants from restaurants and other food service facilities, operations, and activities can pollute our waterways with food waste, oil, grease, detergents, and litter. Common sources of pollutants from restaurants include:

  • Litter and liquids from dumpster areas
  • Grease from spills or leaks from outdoor grease bins
  • Mop water being poured outside
  • Wash water that is not collected from outdoor washing

Print a stormwater protection and grease bin poster to post at your restaurant and educate staff: Restaurants (English) / Restaurantes (Spanish) / Grease Bin Sign (Bilingual).

Man and woman standing in a garage where vehicles are maintained.

Vehicle Services

Vehicle repair, fluids replacement, and equipment storage can contaminate stormwater runoff with toxic chemicals including:

  • Hydrocarbons (motor oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and grease)
  • Heavy metals (lead, copper, and zinc)
  • Antifreeze
  • Solvents

Print a stormwater protection poster to post at your business and educate staff: Vehicle Service Facilities (English) / Instalaciones de servicio para vehículos (Spanish).

Resources

Resources for Businesses in the Boulder St. Vrain Watershed

Stormwater Protection Posters

Print-friendly 8.5 x 11 posters available in both English and Spanish:

 

Additional Boulder County Resources

 

Inspecting and Maintaining Stormwater Control Measures

Resources for Businesses in Any Watershed

Stormwater Protection Posters

Print-friendly 8.5 x 11 posters available in both English and Spanish:

Spill Kits

All types of businesses would benefit from having tools on hand to clean up spills if they happen. These tools and materials can be purchased individually or as a complete “spill kit.” Materials to have on hand include:

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as googles and gloves.
  • Absorbent materials (pads, pillows, powders) to soak up the spill.
    • Some absorbent materials are universal and can be used to soak up just about any liquid, while some spills (battery acid, fuel, hazardous materials) may require specialized absorbent.
  • Broom and dustpan to sweep up used absorbent powder.
  • Waste disposal bags to dispose of used absorbent materials.
  • Socks, booms, covers or other storm drain protection.

The following websites are examples of ones that offer materials for cleaning up spills: