Industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facility operators have an important role in managing stormwater. By adhering to applicable regulations and adopting best management practices, stormwater contaminants can be significantly reduced, protecting your business and the environment.
Municipalities have bylaws that regulate and prohibit certain types of waste from being discharged into stormwater drains. These bylaws are in place to protect public health and the environment. Contact your municipality for relevant regulations.
Saanich Peninsula Stormwater Bylaw No. 4168
Properties in Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney must follow the Saanich Peninsula Stormwater Bylaw No. 4168 [PDF/304KB]. This bylaw regulates and prohibits certain types of waste from entering stormwater drainage systems to protect municipal infrastructure, public health, local waterways, and the marine shoreline environment.
Everyone, including residents and businesses, must ensure the water leaving their property is free of contamination so that only clean water enters nearby stormwater drains that lead to local creeks and waterways. This can be done by:
- Ensuring land activities do not leave waste or chemicals that can be picked up by rain (such as paint or oil from vehicles and vehicle maintenance).
- Ensuring water uses do not wash contaminants into the stormwater drain or a waterway (such as water from power washing or landscaping).
There are specific requirements for the management and maintenance of parking lots and storage areas. For the full code of practices, check out Schedule "C" for parking lots and Schedule "D" for outdoor storage of Bylaw No. 4168 [PDF/304KB].
Catch Basins
More information about Catch Basins is provided in our overview of Trucked Liquid Waste.
Spill Response
A spill happens when something leaks, spills, or gets dumped by accident and it can harm people or the environment. Spills can happen on land or in water. Common spill substances include fuel (gasoline, heating oil, motor oil), paint or cleaning products, antifreeze, acidic or caustic liquids and sewage.
Spills on land can flow into storm drains, ditches, or perimeter drains. These lead straight to local creeks, harbours, and shorelines. That’s why stopping spills before they reach the stormwater system is so important.
