Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping Program
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping practices prevent and reduce stormwater pollution from municipal operations and industrial activities. Employees and contractors of governmental entities have the potential to impact stormwater quality like the rest of the public, but as stewards of stormwater management they must demonstrate good practices and lead by example. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping (PPGH) programs are a collection of internal education initiatives and practices that discuss the importance of stormwater quality, highlight specific ways their work could impact stormwater quality, and review existing ordinances or protocols employees and contractors are required to follow in order to improve stormwater quality. Fertilizer application guidelines and facility-specific pollution prevention plans are two examples of PPGH initiatives.
Each community within the watershed has developed directive plans on the proper handling of potential pollutants and deployment of available controls, training and education of staff, and implementation of identified operation and maintenance procedures. The Cities of Graham and Burlington, as well as NCDOT are responsible for implementing their individual pollution controls for municipal operation and industrial activities being performed within the boundaries of their MS4s as well as at owned and operated facilities. NCDOT does not own or operate any permanent facilities within Little Alamance Creek Watershed so their responsibility is limited to industrial activities performed within the NCDOT ROW within the watershed.
The Cities of Burlington and Graham, and NCDOT have been implementing and reporting on pollution prevention and good housekeeping measures over the tenure of their NPDES MS4 permits. The pollution controls have been focused on typical pollutants generated by project partner facilities and activities but will continue to be refined and adapted, where applicable, as the understanding of the stormwater pollution stressors in Little Alamance Creek increases.