Pollution Prevention
The Environment Agency have developed a 10 point check list, to enable industrial sites to understand their site environment requirements.
As you will recall “the polluter pays” which states “to cause or allow pollution is against the Law. Society is no longer prepared to accept businesses that doesn’t take their Environmental responsibility seriously”.
EA January 2013
Pollution can come from a number sources:
Material delivery/overfilling of vessels/equipment failure/ wrong sewer connections/vandalism/ flooding/ fire explosions or failure to contain fire fighting water and/or foam.
Check your site! Utilise the Environment Agency TEN point checklist.
The checklist:
1. Do you know where your drains go?
- Only clean water such as roof water goes to a surface water drain
- All contaminated water such as sewage and trade effluent to the foul water drain
2. Do you have an updated drainage plan of your site?
3 Are storage containers fir for purpose, regularly inspected and maintained? Are the results logged?
4. Are storage areas and containers sited away from watercourses, surface water drains and un-surfaced areas.
5. Have your storage containers have secondary containment?
6. Do you have procedures in place, delivery, handling, accidental spillages etc?
7. Is your storage and handling of waste safe and does it comply with the Law?
8. Do you know where your waste goes??
9. Are you reducing and recycling your waste?
10. Do you have a system in place, equipment and trained personnel to deal with a pollution incident and fire emergencies which is regularly tested and recorded.
Know the Legislation/Environment Agency Guidelines/PGG’s relative to your site
Consideration should be given to the preparation of a Environmental Management System (EMS). The purpose of an EMS is to prepare and plan the control of an Environmental incident, which must be up to date, readily available and understood by staff.
Reduction of onsite spillage
Equipment to assist in the control of spillages
- Spill kits
- Bunds
- Drain protection, above ground covers tertiary containment
- Pools, lagoons and settling ponds
What happens if there is a site fire
The water generated from a fire creates a waste which can be called FIREWATER. This can be described as the runoff from the suppression of the fire. The runoff may contain pollutants, which should be contained onsite if the pollutant causes a risk to the environment or public health the Environment Agency may consider the option to prosecute.
Your site EMS should consider this type of pollution
Envirocare Northwest can offer a system to assist with your site requirements, the supply of storage tanks, vacuum tankers and all Duty of Care documentation in accordance with current legislation.