Lakewood’s Pollution Prevention Assistance (PPA) program offers technical help to local businesses to reduce pollution. The PPA Specialist will provide concentrated assistance to specific industries. Priority industries include Auto Repair, Auto Detail, Auto Sales, and Restaurants.
Diana Halar, SWM Compliance Inspector
(253) 983-7826
[email protected]
About the Pollution Prevention Assistance Program
The City’s PPA program offers technical assistance to local businesses to reduce pollution. The PPA Specialist will provide concentrated assistance to specific industries.
Priority industries include Auto Repair, Auto Detail, Auto Sales, and Restaurants. You may still contact your PPA Specialist for assistance if your industry does not fall under the listed industry types.
PPA Specialist:
Diana Halar, SWM Compliance Inspector
(253) 983-7826
[email protected]
What the PPA Program Does:
Under this program, the City’s PPA Specialist will visit ~15 local businesses each month. The program is voluntary and educational; site visits are not regulatory compliance visits. During a site visit, the PPA Specialist will review the following:
- High-risk pollution-generating activities
- Maintenance of pretreatment devices
- Outdoor maintenance practices
- Outdoor storage of products and wastes
- Solid and hazardous waste disposal
- Spill prevention
- Washwater practices
Activities implemented through this partnership with the Department of Ecology support other City strategies to protect local water resources, improve the management of solid and hazardous wastes, and protect public and environmental health.
Background Information
Public Works Surface Water Management was selected as a partner in the Washington Department of Ecology’s Pollution Prevention Assistance (PPA) Program. As a partner, Lakewood will receive funding to provide local businesses with resources and technical assistance to reduce pollution.
Working with Businesses to Reduce Pollution:
The City of Lakewood prioritizes protecting our surface water and groundwater, which supplies our drinking water and feeds into the Puget Sound Watershed. To protect these resources, the City already had a robust inspection program.
We have now partnered with Washington State Department of Ecology to build an even stronger program with more resources for our community. Through this partnership, Ecology provides funding for a Pollution Prevention Specialist, a staff position in Public Works Surface Water Management. PPA Specialists can help reduce pollution by providing recommendations on Best Management Practices (BMP’s).
Our shared goal is to prevent contaminants and hazardous wastes from entering our waterways.
Apply below for a free pollution reduction consultation:
Pollution Prevention Tips
Follow these Best Management Practices (BMPs) for pollution control of stormwater and sanitary sewer.
- Dispose of Wastes Properly: Only clean rainwater should enter storm drains.
- Don’t Ignore Maintenance: Make sure grease traps, oil-water separators, and privately-owned catch basins are regularly maintained. Otherwise, they won’t work as intended and may require costly repair.
- Storage of Materials: Store chemicals and other materials under cover and/or containment. Exposing these materials can lead to stormwater pollution.
- Keep Outdoor Areas Well Maintained: Don’t allow dirt, garbage, debris, leaks, and spoils to accumulate.
- Recycling: Recycle light bulbs and other recyclable materials.
- Dumpster Lids: Keeping dumpster lids closed could help the environment, reducing the amount of leachate corroding the dumpster.