Best Management Practices (BMPs) can help to protect drinking water supplies from contamination by materials used in daily business operations. Concerns include the improper handling, storage, or disposal of cleaning solvents, fuel, motor oil, used batteries, machinery parts, leaks from underground storage tanks, detergents, fertilizers and pesticides, de-icing chemicals, medical wastes, paints, and other hazardous chemicals and wastes.

Hazardous Materials

• Use BMPs for proper hazardous material handling, storage, disposal, and emergency response planning.
• If your business is an unregistered generator of hazardous waste, determine your generator size:
  http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/approvals/hwforms.htm#gen
  and register with MassDEP: http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/policies.htm#hw.
• Upgrade all above and below ground oil/hazardous material storage tanks to meet current construction standards. Funding for replacing underground storage tanks is available through the MA Department of Revenue. For more information, refer to http://www.dor.state.ma.us/ust/ust_home.htm.

Floor Drains

Floor drains connected to dry wells or septic systems provide a route directly to groundwater if leaks or spills occur. In some cases floor drains may discharge to storm sewers or directly to surface waters.

• Investigate where floor drains flow. If floor drains do not flow to a tight tank or municipal sewer, comply with MassDEP UIC requirements. For more information, refer to http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/uicqa.htm.
• Floor drains in areas where hazardous materials or wastes are stored must drain to a tight tank, be sealed, or be connected to a municipal sanitary sewer. See http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/sourcewa.htm#ground for more information.

Septic Systems

• Do not dispose of any hazardous materials such as cleaners, paints, or oil to a septic system. Septic systems drain to the soil without treatment.
• Locate, inspect, and maintain septic system components regularly to ensure a working system. See http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/septicsy.htm#care.

Lawncare and Landscaping

Incorporate best management practices for the application, storage, and disposal of fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Refer to "Integrated Pest Management Kit for Building Managers", http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/publications/index.htm.

For More Information

For additional help regarding environmental requirements and BMPs, contact the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA). The OTA is a non-regulatory agency within the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.  OTA provides free, confidential assistance at http://www.mass.gov/envir/ota/.

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