Stormwater Pollution Prevention

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Preventing stormwater contamination requires constant vigilance from SFO staff, tenants, and contractors. If hazardous substances present on Airport property wind up in the bay, they can have a wide range of adverse effects on the environment. 

“Only Rain Down the Drain” - only stormwater runoff associated with a rain event is allowed to enter our drainage system.
What can you do to help us protect our storm drains? 

1. Know where all storm drains near your work area are located. Sometimes it’s easy for them to get covered up, so make sure they’re clearly visible.
2. Don’t store hazardous substances or equipment containing hazardous substances near storm drains. Don’t park vehicles directly over storm drain catch basins.
3. Make sure all drums holding hazardous substances are stored indoors and are in secondary containment. When storing or performing maintenance on broken down equipment & vehicles, use drip pans to catch any fluids that might leak.
4. In the event of a spill, protect any nearby storm drains if it is safe to do so. This can be accomplished by placing a boom, straw wattle, or absorbent (similar to kitty litter) around a catch basin, or by placing a drain cover directly over it. All facilities that store hazardous substances should have a spill response kit on site.
5. Only stormwater runoff is permitted to enter the Airport’s drainage system. If you happen to witness a spill or see someone dumping anything into a storm drain catch basin, please contact Airport Communications immediately at 911. 

For additional information regarding storm water pollution prevention, please see Spill Prevention.