Each year, staff conducts inspections at 40 industrial facilities and tests stormwater runoff at 8 facilities. These inspections help staff identify facilities that need assistance complying with state issued permits and local pollution control ordinances.
Industrial facilities can generate significant amounts of polluted stormwater runoff when certain materials and processes are exposed to rain. For example, think of a scrap metal facility that disassembles and stores dirty, oily metal parts outside. Without certain pollution prevention practices in place, rain will wash off oil, grease, sediment, heavy metals and other pollutants into nearby storm drains and eventually a stream. NC's Department of Environment Quality issues permits to many industrial facilities, requiring them to practice pollution prevention practices to minimize polluted storm water runoff. Regular inspections and stormwater sampling helps these facilities follow the intention of these permits.