Stormwater Program for Industrial Activity: Steps to Compliance
Step 3: Assess for pollutants, sources of contaminated stormwater
How do I assess for pollutants at my facility?
All facilities requiring permit coverage must assess for industrial activities and materials, and consider the potential pollutants that can come from these activities and materials
Step 3a: Review significant materials:
Here’s a general list of significant materials that can cause contaminated stormwater runoff:
Materials:
- Fuels, solvents, coolants, lubricants and cleaners
- Raw, intermediate, and final products
- Metallic materials
- Chemicals
- Wastes and scrap materials
- Hazardous materials/wastes
- Processing or production operations
- Machining fluids
- Dust or residuals
- Fueling stations
- Above-ground tanks for liquid storage
Step 3b: Review industrial activities:
Here’s a general list of industrial activities that can cause contaminated stormwater runoff:
Activities:
- Outdoor storage activities
- Outside manufacturing areas
- Vehicle & equipment washing, maintenance and storage areas
- Loading and unloading operations
- Substance Transfer areas
- Outdoor manufacturing or processing activities
- Significant dust or particulate generating activities
- Onsite waste disposal practices
- Outside storage areas for raw materials, by-products, and finished products
- Grinding, cutting, degreasing, buffing, and brazing
- Industrial waste management areas (landfills, waste piles, treatment plants, disposal areas)
Step 3c: Review the pollutants of concern by sector:
Based on the MPCA’s Multi-Sector General Permit, below is a list of pollutants to monitor for, listed by sector. If you have more than one sector at your facility, you will have to monitor for all of the pollutants within each sector and/or sub-sector. Note: the information below is for the ENTIRE sector.
|
Sector |
Sector Description |
Pollutants to Monitor |
|---|---|---|
|
Sector A |
Timber products |
Arsenic, Chromium, COD, Copper, Pentachlorophenol, pH, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector B |
Paper and Allied Products Manufacturing |
COD, TSS |
|
Sector C |
Chemical and Allied Products Manufacturing |
Aluminum, CBOD5, Fluoride, Iron, Lead, Phosphorus, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector D |
Asphalt Paving and Roofing Materials Manufactures and Lubricant Manufacturers |
pH, Oil & Grease, TSS |
|
Sector E |
Glass, Clay, Cement, Concrete, and Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
Aluminum, Iron, pH, TSS |
|
Sector F |
Primary Metals |
Aluminum, Copper, Iron, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector G |
Metal Mining (Ore Mining and Dressing) |
Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, COD, Copper, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Nitrate + Nitrite, pH, Selenium, Silver, Zinc, TSS |
|
Sector H |
Coal Mines and Coal Mining-Related Facilities |
Aluminum, pH, Iron, TSS |
|
Sector I |
Oil and Gas Extraction and Refining |
Ammonia, Lead, Nickel, Nitrate + Nitrite, Nitrogen, pH, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector J |
Mineral Mining and Dressing |
pH, TSS |
|
Sector K |
Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage or Disposal Facilities |
Alpha Terpineol, Aniline, Arsenic, Ammonia, Benzoic Acid, Cadmium, CBOD5, Chromium, COD, Cyanide, Lead, Naphthalene, pH, Phenol, p-Cresol, Pyridine, Selenium, Silver, Total Cadmium, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector L |
Landfills and Land Application Sites |
Alpha Terpineol, Ammonia, , Benzoic Acid, CBOD5, Iron, P cresol, pH, Phenol, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector M |
Automobile Salvage Yards |
Aluminum, Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Iron, Lead, Toluene, TSS, Xylene |
|
Sector N |
Scrap Recycling and Waste Recycling Facilities |
Aluminum, COD, Copper, Iron, Lead, pH, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector O |
Steam Electric Generating Facilities |
Iron, pH, TSS |
|
Sector P |
Land Transportation and Warehousing |
TSS |
|
Sector Q |
Water Transportation |
TSS, Aluminum, Lead, Zinc, Iron |
|
Sector R |
Ship and Boat Building and Repair Yards |
TSS |
|
Sector S |
Air Transportation |
BOD, CBOD5, Ammonia, TSS, pH |
|
Sector T |
Treatment Works |
TSS, CBOD5 |
|
Sector U |
Food and Kindred Products |
TSS, CBOD5, COD, Ammonia, Total Nitrogen, Nitrate + Nitrite, Nitrogen, Phosphorus |
|
Sector V |
Textile Mills, Apparel, and Other Fabric Products Manufacturing |
TSS |
|
Sector W |
Furniture and Fixtures |
TSS |
|
Sector X |
Printing and Publishing |
TSS, Silver |
|
Sector Y |
Rubber, Miscellaneous Plastic Products, and Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries |
Lead, TSS, Zinc |
|
Sector Z |
Leather Tanning and Finishing |
CBOD5, Chromium, TSS |
|
Sector AA |
Fabricated Metal Products |
Aluminum, Iron, Zinc, TSS |
|
Sector AB |
Transportation Equipment, Industrial and Commercial Machinery |
TSS |
|
Sector AC |
Electronic and Electrical Equipment and Components, Photographic and Optical Goods |
TSS, Copper, Lead |
KEY: CBOD5=Five-Day Carbonaceous, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, BOD=Biological Oxygen Demand, TSS=Total Suspended Solids
Step 3d: Implement a Mercury Minimization Plan, if required:
Any time mercury sources or devices are found to be exposed to stormwater, a Mercury Minimization Plan shall be developed that describes how mercury sources will be managed at the site to eliminate exposure to precipitation and stormwater runoff. The mercury sources and devices shall be removed from stormwater exposure and managed in accordance with Minn. R. 7045, Hazardous Waste, and any additional applicable state and federal rules.
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Mercury Minimization Plan Checklist (PDF Version) (wq-strm3-30)
