The City of Oceanside is required to comply with State and Federal Clean Water regulations that mandate stormwater pollution prevention. The Regional Municipal Storm Water Permit (MS4 Permit) was issued to all San Diego municipalities and is the basis for the City of Oceanside’s local ordinances. Under Chapter 40 of the City’s Municipal Code, business owners and operators are required to prevent the release of pollutants to the storm drain system. The City of Oceanside maintains the right to investigate and enforce stormwater violations pursuant to this code.  

Commercial and Industrial businesses have been identified as potential contributors to storm water pollution. Metals, detergents, trash, pesticides, fertilizers, landscape trimmings, hazardous chemicals, sediments, oil and other equipment fluids are a few of the many contaminants commercial and industrial businesses can contribute to storm water and urban runoff pollution. Due to this high potential for storm water pollution, commercial and industrial businesses can do their part to prevent pollution from entering our streets and storm drains to protect our waterways through Best Management Practices (BMPs). 

Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

Definition: Best Management Practices (BMPs) are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants into stormwater, receiving waters or the stormwater conveyance system. BMPs may include any type of pollution prevention and control measures that can help to achieve compliance with the City’s Municipal Code and ultimately protect our waterways. Examples include good housekeeping practices, clean waste storage areas, proper material storage, and avoiding non-stormwater runoff from your property.  

Oceanside Watershed Protection Program staff help businesses comply with City, State and Federal storm water regulations. Resources are available including technical assistance, compliance support, employee education on stormwater BMPs and onsite inspections.  

Check out the Industrial and Commercial Guide for BMPs to prevent stormwater pollution. 

Esta guía útil proporciona a las empresas las mejores prácticas de gestión para prevenir la contaminación en la escorrentía de aguas pluviales. 

For industrial facilities, there are additional permitting requirements from the State Water Resources Control Board. Please refer to the Industrial Businesses and Facilities tab for information on these permitting requirements. 

Employee Training 

Commercial and industrial businesses must train all employees on your business’s stormwater BMPs. These trainings should focus on the employee’s responsibility for good housekeeping, preventative maintenance, spill prevention and response and material management practices that prevent storm water pollution. Inspectors may request to see proof of training during the inspection. Please keep these logs in a location that is familiar to management staff and/or employees that may be in charge of your facility when management is not available. 

Click on the links below for employee training logs: 

 

Restaurants 

Restaurants can be a source of pollutants that negatively impact our waterways including food waste, oil, grease, bacteria and trash. Check out the Food Service Environmental Compliance Page and Project Clean Water’s What’s Cookin Guide for restaurant and food service BMP requirements.

Automotives 

Automotive businesses have a high potential of generating various types of pollutants that can impact local waterways including heavy metals, oil, grease and trash. Facilities that conduct mechanical/body repair, painting, maintenance, fueling or cleaning are classified as an automotive business. Check out Project Clean Water’s The Green Wrench Guide for helpful information on stormwater BMPs for the Automotive Industry. BMPs for the automotive industry include sweeping your shop floor instead of hosing it down, using a drip pan when changing car fluids, using berms around car washing areas to contain runoff. See below for more techniques: 

Hazardous Waste and Trash Disposal 

Commercial and industrial businesses are required to properly dispose of hazardous waste and trash in order to manage urban runoff pollution. For information on authorized hazardous waste drop off facilities check out the City of Oceanside’s Zero Waste Program Page or contact Waste Management at (760) 435-5457 or via email at oceansidezerowaste@wm.com. 

Report any spills that cannot be cleaned or contained to the City of Oceanside at 760-435-4500. 

Report hazardous substance spills to the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ), Hazardous Materials Division at 858-505-6657. 

Always call 911 if the spill presents an immediate threat to public health or the environment.  

For BMP information specific to certain types of businesses, visit the following link that best represents your business type.