Program overview
The City of Bainbridge Island's Source Control Program is a pollution prevention program required by Washington State Department of Ecology as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to uphold the Clean Water Act.
The primary purpose of this program is to ensure that those businesses identified on Bainbridge Island with land use and/or activities with potential for source of pollutants are following best management practices to control pollutants and prevent water pollution during all business activities.
When pollutants such as trash, sediment, oils, sewage, etc. are not controlled by best management practices (BMPs), the pollutants end up in stormwater runoff that flows to critical area wetlands, groundwater, streams, lakes, and Puget Sound. Pollutants create conditions of poor water quality that impacts the quality of life for people and wildlife.
Best management practices (BMPs) for pollutant control are enforced by Bainbridge Island Municipal Code 15.22 - Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination. The code lists all prohibited pollutants and provides guidance on general requirements to prevent and eliminate illicit discharges. BMPs can be operational or structural. An example of an operational BMP is good housekeeping, such as having a policy and procedure for staff to keep dumpster areas tidy. An example of a structural BMP is to store materials, waste, and dumpsters in weather sheltered areas, such as under roof cover.
The City's Source Control Program is still in development. Please contact Water Resources for more information.
