Waste Water Discharge

Transcription

1 Plicy PURPOSE AND SCOPE The practices detailed in this plicy are intended t minimize run-ff releases assciated with firefighting, fire training, emergency scene spills and discharges, trauma scene waste management and fire facility maintenance activities POLICY It is the plicy f the t adhere t the regulatins established by the state Reginal Water Quality Bard fr this regin NON-EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training activities shuld be perfrmed in a manner that reduces r prevents discharges t the strm water systems. When discharge int the strm water system is unavidable (i.e. equipment failures), the fllwing measures shuld be implemented t minimize the impact t water quality: Fire training shuld be cnducted, where feasible, in facilities where run-ff cntrls that prtect the strm drain system have been engineered and built int the facility. Direct water flws t landscape r greenbelt areas whenever pssible. When flwing water cannt be cntained in the landscape areas, survey the area prir t the training exercise t ensure that debris will nt enter the strm water system as a result f water flw generated during the drill. When practicable and necessary, divert flws t the sewer, with the permissin f the lcal sewer agency. Use fg streams fr shrt duratins. Use lwer galln per minute nzzle settings. Prevent discharge f fam t the strm drain system. If training activities invlve the use f fam, blck ff all ptentially affected strm drain inlets with plastic sheeting and sandbags, cnstruct a temprary berm, cllect the run-ff and discharge t the sanitary sewer after a de-faming agent has been applied VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT WASHING AND CLEANING The fllwing shuld be cnsidered in rder t prevent r reduce the discharge f pllutants t the strm drain system frm vehicle and equipment washing and cleaning: Use cleaning methds that emply the minimal use f water, such as a wet chamis r nn-water rinse, when applicable. Limit the use f all cleaning agents and when feasible, use nly water. ***DRAFT*** - 1

2 Remve debris frm any area r facility that is used fr washing and/r cleaning vehicles. Direct water flws t landscape r green areas r cntain the water n-site and allw it t evaprate and infiltrate whenever it is safe t d s withut causing damage r ersin. Use designated wash areas (preferably cvered and bermed) t cntain and/r divert the wash water t the sewer, either thrugh the use f a wet-vac r a plumbed sanitary sewer cnnectin. Use self-cntained water recycling systems. Use ff-site cmmercial washing and steam-cleaning facilities. Prhibit all steam cleaning discharge frm entering the strm drain. Direct all steam-cleaning discharge t the sanitary sewer VEHICLE FUELING The fllwing measures shuld be taken t reduce the impact t strm water: The fueling area shuld be prtected frm strm water by installing a canpy. Pave fueling area surfaces with Prtland cement cncrete (r ther equivalent smth impervius surface) with a 2 percent t 4 percent slpe t prevent puddles. Keep perimeter drains clear f debris at all times. If a perimeter drain is nt installed, install a berm r graded area t prevent run-ff f strm water and spilled liquids. Use a dead-end sump t cllect spills r install an il-water separatr. Utilize vapr recvery nzzles t help cntrl drips as well as air pllutin. Maintain a spill cntrl kit at the refueling site. When fueling fire vehicles, members shuld take the fllwing measures t prevent fuel spills and leaks: Avid fueling during rain cnditins in fuel areas that d nt have a canpy. When necessary t refuel during rain cnditins in fueling areas that d nt have a canpy, the persn refueling shall nt leave the fueling area while fuel is flwing frm the pump. Avid tpping-ff fuel tanks. Use absrbent material n small spills and fr general cleaning rather than hsing dwn an area. Remve the absrbent material prmptly and dispse as hazardus waste. ***DRAFT*** - 2

3 Avid mbile fueling during nn-emergency events if the vehicles and/r equipment can be brught t the refueling facility VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR A dry shp can help prevent r reduce the discharge f pllutants frm vehicle and equipment maintenance as fllws: Cnduct vehicle and equipment maintenance in areas where precautins have been taken t prevent spills frm entering the strm drain system. Use dry cleaning methds in maintenance and repair areas unless adequate precautins have been taken t prevent the discharge f wash water t the strm drain HOSE WASHING AND CLEANING The discharge f pllutants frm washing and cleaning fire hses and equipment may be prevented r reduced by using the fllwing safeguards, as apprpriate: Design new areas r facilities that will be used fr washing and/r cleaning fire hses in a way that prevents wash water r ther debris frm entering the strm drain r frm receiving water that has nt been adequately treated. Direct water flws t landscaped r green areas, r cntain the water n-site and allw it t perclate thrugh plant material r the landscape, r t evaprate cmpletely whenever it is safe t d s withut causing damage r ersin. Use designated wash areas (preferably cvered and bermed) t cntain and/r divert the wash water t the sewer either thrugh the use f a wet-vac r a plumbed sanitary sewer cnnectin. When cleaning the wash area, use wet mp cleaning methds in small areas, when feasible. Use methds f cleaning fire hses that emply the minimal use f water, such as high-pressure spray washers, when applicable. Cnsider the use f bidegradable cleaning agents FACILITY MAINTENANCE Facility maintenance shuld be cnducted as fllws: Use dry cleaning methds (e.g., sweeping) t clean impervius hardscape areas, such as apparatus flrs, driveways, patis and walkways. Place debris in receptacles fr slid waste dispsal. Maintain landscape areas as required t limit intrductin f leaves and ther landscape waste int the strm water system. Mnitr and maintain irrigatin systems as required t minimize ff-site discharge f irrigatin run-ff. ***DRAFT*** - 3

4 Prvide spill kits at the wrk site and use them fr cleaning when apprpriate. Dispse f spilled material in accrdance with applicable regulatins. See applicable regulatins listed by the Califrnia Envirnmental Prtectin Agency (Cal/EPA) at website. Maintain and repair structures using methds that d nt result in the release f water, sil r waste int the strm drain system SOLID WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE AREAS Slid waste and hazardus materials strage areas shuld be maintained as fllws: There shuld be a canpy r rf ver slid waste and hazardus materials strage areas. There shuld be secndary cntainment (e.g., a metal r plastic pan with a raised edge) fr hazardus materials strage areas. All trash and slid waste receptacles shuld have lids. Keep lids clsed t prevent cntact with rainfall and t ensure cntainment f waste within the strage area EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES It is nt always pssible t prevent discharge that ccurs during emergency firefighting activities (e.g., flws necessary fr the prtectin f life and prperty). Hwever, when practicable, the fllwing shuld be cnsidered TRAUMA SCENE CLEANUP Trauma scene wastes (e.g., bld and human tissue) may be generated at varius types f crime, cllisin r accident scenes. This type f waste can pse a health risk t thse respnsible fr verseeing and cnducting the cleanup. The fllwing prcedures shuld be used when practicable t prtect members and prevent any unnecessary discharge f material int the strm drain CLEANUP OF TRAUMA SCENE WASTE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY The Incident Cmmander shuld determine whether there are sufficient resurces fr the cleanup f trauma scene waste n public prperty (e.g., persnnel trained t deal with bldbrne pathgens). When a scene requires decntaminatin and cleanup beynd the capability f n-scene emergency respnders, a registered Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitiner (TSWMP) is necessary. These practitiners are registered with the Department f Public Health (DPH) and will cnduct cleanup peratins in accrdance with the Medical Waste Management Act (Health and Safety Cde et seq.). A list f practitiners can be btained frm the DPH website. Befre prceeding with site cleanup, emergency respnders must have the prper persnal prtective equipment (PPE), adequate supplies f bleach and sufficient water t prperly cmplete the peratin. Universal precautins must be utilized during ***DRAFT*** - 4

5 any cleanup peratin. Additinal infrmatin and guidance fr cleanup plicies and prcedures fr bdily fluids may be btained 24 hurs a day by cntacting the cunty health department. Persnnel shall wear glves when washing r handling cntaminated equipment, clthing r ther materials. Additinal PPE may be necessary if there is the ptential fr splashing. The Crner shuld remve any human tissue r bdy parts at the scene f a fatality, fllwing its wn plicies and prcedures. The Crner will generally nt respnd t a nn-fatal incident fr the purpse f human tissue remval. Human tissue, bdy parts r bld/bdy fluids in a slid state shuld nt be allwed t enter a strm drain. Tissue fund in the strm drain system shuld be remved t the maximum extent practicable. Sharps waste shall be dispsed f in a rigid sharps cntainer. The sealed cntainer shall be dispsed f in an apprpriate manner in cmpliance with the Medical Waste Management Act. The cunty health department may be cntacted, if needed, fr cnsultatin r assistance in trauma scene management r questins regarding legal dispsitin f medical waste. Fr incidents n freeways, crdinatin shuld ccur with the Califrnia Highway Patrl regarding the ptential use f Califrnia Department f Transprtatin (CALTRANS) fr cleanup f trauma scene waste. When a TSWMP is called t a scene, members are respnsible fr staying n-scene until the TSWMP arrives. Only in highly unusual life-threatening emergency situatins shall a trauma cleanup scene be abandned by members prir t the arrival f the TSWMP. Reasnable effrts shuld be made t prtect the strm drain system when cnducting cleanup f a trauma scene. Ntificatins regarding significant ptential impacts t the strm drain system and additinal infrmatin and guidance may be btained 24 hurs a day by cntacting the cunty SPECIFIC CLEANUP PROCEDURES FOR SMALL SPILLS members may decntaminate and then wash dwn small amunts f human bld/bdy fluids that are still in a liquid state. A small spill is defined as a spill that can be thrughly and cmpletely disinfected with ne galln f 10 percent chlrine disinfectant. This determinatin shuld be made with the understanding that multiple applicatins may be necessary t accmplish full disinfectin. Members shall wear PPEs t prtect skin, mucus membranes, lungs and clthing frm chlrine r trauma scene waste. ***DRAFT*** - 5

6 Members shall apply disinfectant t the liquid bi-waste (fam may develp) and let it sit fr a minimum f 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, members shall wash dwn the area using a fire hse r pressurized water extinguisher. In nn-emergency situatins and when circumstances permit, members shuld als: Attempt t mve trash r miscellaneus debris frm the path f the run-ff s n additinal r unnecessary material is discharged r carried int the strm drain. If there is a chice between directing the run-ff dwn a strm drain r a sewer, use the sewer. Prus surfaces, such as asphalt, may require multiple repetitins t cmpletely disinfect and thrughly clean the area. If the material requiring cleanup meets any f the fllwing criteria, emergency respnders shall call a TSWMP: The amunt f liquid waste at the incident reasnably exceeds the ability t thrughly disinfect it with ne galln f 10 percent chrine disinfectant. The material requiring cleanup is human tissue r a bdy part and Crner persnnel will nt be respnding t the scene t remve the material because the incident did nt invlve a fatality. A TSWMP may be requested thrugh dispatch when needed. When a TSWMP is called t a scene, members are respnsible fr staying n-scene until the TSWMP r ther respnsible agency (e.g., law enfrcement, public wrks) arrives. In n case shall the scene be abandned prir t the arrival f the TSWMP CLEANUP OF TRAUMA SCENE WASTE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY persnnel shuld nt clean up trauma scene waste n private prperty DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES T the extent allwed by the circumstances at the scene and withut cmprmising the health and safety f members r the public, emergency firefighting activities shuld be perfrmed in a manner that avids r minimizes discharges t the strm water system, including the fllwing: If pssible, avid directing firefighting flws directly n erdible surfaces if run-ff will enter receiving waters r strm drains. If pssible, apply firefighting flws s run-ff will flw ver vegetated areas prir t entering receiving waters r strm drains. ***DRAFT*** - 6

7 DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS The Cunty is the Certified Unified Prgram Agency (CUPA) with cuntywide respnsibility fr crdinating a respnse t hazardus material spills. The Fresn Cunty Fire Prtectin is a participating agency with specified respnsibilities within the jurisdictin. The Fresn Cunty Fire Prtectin perates under a Hazardus Materials Area Plan that describes prcedures fr the allcatin f resurces and assigns tasks during a hazardus materials release emergency. Fire and law enfrcement members shall respnd t hazardus material releases accrding t respnse prtcls established by their department under versight f CUPA NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS, RELEASES AND DISCHARGES Spills, releases and discharges f pllutants shall be reprted by the Incident Cmmander as required by all applicable state and federal laws. In additin, any such spills, releases and illegal discharges with the ptential t endanger health, safety r the envirnment shall be reprted by the Incident Cmmander t the cunty within 24 hurs after discvery. If it is safe t d s, necessary actins shall be taken t cntain and minimize the spill, release r discharge. ***DRAFT*** - 7