Minimum Control Measure #6

Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations (PP/GH)

Program Objectives

While many of the Stormwater Phase II requirements have an "external" focus, aimed at developers and other aspects of activities within the County, the Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping (PP/GH) Program is directed internally. County operations can have significant impacts on stormwater quality. Many Douglas County operations are relatively large in geographic scope (such as Operations Division activities, Parks and Open Space maintenance, capital improvement projects), or significant in potential impact (such as maintenance of open channels and regional flood control facilities). Certain activities, such as fleet storage and maintenance, require the storage and handling of hazardous materials. By examining how County operations are conducted, cost effective ways of controlling pollutants at their sources can be identified and implemented, and safe and efficient work practices can be integrated with environmental responsibility and stewardship.

The objectives for Douglas County’s Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping (PP/GH) for Municipal Operations Program center on the effective design, installation, operation, and maintenance of effective pollution prevention and good housekeeping principles, methodologies, and processes. The PP/GH Program is also intended to promote environmentally sound approaches to reducing or eliminating the potential for pollutants to enter the stormwater runoff as a result of County activities.

General objectives of the PP/GH Program include:

• Meet the requirements of the Water Quality Control Division’s Stormwater Phase II program.
• Meet the requirements of the Cherry Creek Reservoir and Chatfield Reservoir Control Regulations for those portions of the County within the Cherry Creek and Chatfield Basins.
• Promote proper and consistent pollution prevention and good housekeeping principles, processes, and methodologies for all operations conducted by Douglas County.
• Promote good pollution prevention and housekeeping measures among and between Douglas County divisions, including Engineering, Operations, Parks and Trails, and Open Space.
  

The primary goal of Douglas County's PP/GH Program is to educate County employees on the importance of understanding and implementing pollution prevention and good housekeeping measures at their respective locations through the use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are straight forward, understandable, up-to-date, and effective.