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Dump Smart” Ways to Paint, Pressure Wash, and Clean Carpets

During the summer, many people spruce up their house by cleaning carpets, pressure washing, and painting.  Whether you do these activities yourself or hire a contractor, make sure that the dirty wash water stays out of our storm drains and waterways.  Follow these “Dump Smart” tips:

Painting Tips

• Empty water used to clean paint brushes and other painting equipment down a sink, toilet, bathtub or shower drain.
• If you hire a contractor, ask them to clean painting equipment in a sink or bathtub, or empty water used for cleaning down a toilet.

Pressure Washing Tips

• Use water only
• If you hire a contractor, ask them to use water only and place a filter over nearby storm drains

Carpet Cleaning Tips

• If you have a septic system, make sure the waste water is collected and taken to a sewer discharge site for proper disposal
• If you are connected to the sewer system, empty the waste water down a sink, toilet, bath tub or shower drain.

Dump Smart Campaign
The “Dump Smart” campaign provides information to carpet cleaning, pressure washing and painting businesses about how to dispose of their waste water properly so it does not go down storm drains.  Businesses are asked to protect stormwater and take the pledge to “Dump Smart.”  Businesses that return a pledge card are recognized in a Kitsap Sun advertisement.  A Dump Smart website, www.dumpsmart.org, also provides these tips.  The Kitsap County Surface and Stormwater Management Program is partnering with other jurisdictions on the Dump Smart campaign, which is funded with a Department of Ecology grant.

Kitsap Businesses Pledge to Dump Smart
When you need carpet cleaning, painting, or pressure washing services, consider a Dump Smart business.  Each has pledged to correctly dispose of the waste water generated by their services.  Help protect our local creeks, streams, rivers and Puget Sound by choosing one of these Dump Smart businesses in Kitsap County:

Next time you hire a carpet cleaner, pressure washer, or painter, ask if they Dump Smart!

For more information about Kitsap County’s water quality programs, visit  www.kitsapgov.com/sswm.

Liz Satterthwaite is an education and outreach coordinator with the Kitsap County Surface and Stormwater Management Program.  Liz provides information to businesses and develops outreach materials on “green” stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens and pervious pavement.