Business Pollution Prevention

To keep our waterways clean, businesses within city limits are required to prevent pollution by disposing of materials properly, training staff on how to handle potentially polluting materials, and adequately responding to issues and spills. Rain falling on your business' site or water generated by work activities can collect contaminants such as fertilizers, pesticides, soil, hazardous chemicals, metals, and food waste. This can then flow into a nearby lake, river, stream, or wetland through surface runoff, going through the city's stormwater system, or infiltrating through loose soils.

Together, we can prevent pollution from ever happening.

Business Source Control Basics

As required by the NPDES permit, Snohomish launched a program where city inspectors or stormwater crew will work with business owners to identify potentially polluting sources through inspections at least once every five years. Businesses are also encouraged to implement "BMPs", or Best Management Practices, that reduce or fully prevent pollution. This will prevent pollutants from mixing with rainwater and entering the city's stormwater system, keeping your business from receiving penalties down the road.

To ensure all standards are met before the inspection, use the Business Pollution Prevention Inspection Checklist. To remind employees about their responsibilities, please post the Source Control Brochure in a visible area (also available in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog). It is also important to have a Spill Response Plan in place of emergency. A template can be found HERE.

If you are a business owner and would like to request a spill response kit, please send an email to iliakis@snohomishwa.gov with your name, business, and address.

Inspection Process

The inspection should not take more than a couple of hours, and it has four parts:

  1. Contact and Notice: The city will send out a notice explaining the program, the purpose for inspection, and the process. If you have a preferred date, contact the phone number on the letter to make sure it is scheduled at a reasonable time for you.
  2. Site Inspection: The inspector will walk through the business and look for practices that could lead to stormwater pollution (ex. Improperly stored oil, soapy water runoff, lack of spill response plan) or are actively preventing it (ex. Spill kit being available, secondary containment for hazardous materials, and clean driveways).
  3. Action Plan: If the inspector finds something out of compliance at the time of the inspection, recommendations will be made on how to correct the issue. Sometimes, it could just mean getting a spill kit, but other times, it could include larger changes such as retraining staff on how to handle materials.
  4. Compliance: If issues are found that directly pollute the stormwater system and are not remedied, there may be more inspection or enforcement until compliance is achieved.

"Shut the Lid" Dumpster Program

In 2023, the city began a "Shut the Lid" campaign focused on preventing stormwater from leaching through waste in dumpsters. The program entails placing an informative sticker on a visible side of your dumpsters reminding people to shut the dumpster lid after use. This prevents water from building up and attracting pests, developing harsh smells, and leaking "dumpster juice" into our waterways. For more information, please contact the NPDES Coordinator at iliakis@snohomishwa.gov, and view an informational letter HERE.

Commonly Asked Questions

How do I know if my business is on the list?

Business types range from food & beverage to manufacturing but exclude those that do not commonly use many potentially polluting materials. See the full list HERE.

When will inspections happen?

You can expect your business to be inspected at least once every five years as 20% of businesses in city limits must be inspected each year. The letter you receive before the inspection will not give an exact date, but if you need accommodations, call (425) 328-7912 or email iliakis@snohomishwa.gov.

What are Best Management Practices?
Best Management Practices or BMPs are changes that can be made to prevent pollution runoff. Some examples include using native plants in landscaping to retain soil stability and absorb water, using secondary containment when storing hazardous materials, and repairing leaking vehicles as soon as it is noticed. For a full list of BMPs recommended by the Washington Department of Ecology, see the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington.