Stormwater Best Management Practices for Vehicle Maintenance Activities

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Vehicle maintenance activities can contribute contaminants to runoff when measures have not been taken to prevent these discharges. Vehicle maintenance activities include, but are not limited to, changing vehicle oil, washing vehicles, checking fluids, refueling, and general maintenance. Improper disposal or dumping of antifreeze, oil, and vehicle wash waters causes pollution of campus streams.

Do’s

• Do store toxic materials such as oil and antifreeze under cover with secondary containment to catch any leaks.
• Do clean up any spills immediately to prevent illegal discharges to the storm drain system.
• Do keep a spill kit on hand.
• Do clean floors and work surfaces in vehicle maintenance areas with brooms, shovels and shop vacuums, not with water hoses.
• Do wash vehicles at a car wash so that the wash water goes into the sanitary sewer system.
• Do properly store and dispose of generated waste chemicals by contacting EHS at 919-962-5507.
• Do perform regular maintenance on vehicles to prevent leaks of oil and antifreeze.

Don’ts

• Don’t dump any toxic substance or liquid waste on the pavement, ground or near a storm drain.
• Don’t wash vehicles on pavement or into a storm drain.