Florida is known as the sunshine state for fun, vacation, and adventure. People come from all over the world to enjoy the sun, the soft sand, and perhaps, a day on the beach somewhere along Florida’s 825 miles of coastline. Florida’s beaches have become the state’s most valuable natural resources, and with good reason. There is a thriving ecosystem along Florida’s beaches, making it home to several species of birds, turtles, and other wildlife.
Marinas, boat yards, and shipyards also make their home on or adjacent to waterways and particularly our oceans. Marinas and boat yards are seen by most as just storage facilities for our vessels. Both serve the purpose of storage and maintenance, but there is a difference. Marinas are more about luxury and convenience. Boat yards are usually stripped down to the basics. They focus more on functionality and likely a great place for major repair services and maintenance.
Marinas and boat yards are categorized as industrial facilities that may require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Operators of these regulated facilities must acquire an NPDES stormwater permit and employ pollution prevention measures to reduce the risk of contaminating stormwater runoff. Marina and boat yard operators and their tenants frequently store hazardous chemicals used to maintain their vessels. These harmful substances can be carried off by stormwater, attributing to a negative impact to nearby waterbodies, and our coastal areas.
Marinas and boatyards have a variety of possible pollutant sources.
- Vessel cleaning in the water.
- Engine parts washing.
- Surface preparation, sanding, and paint removal, and repainting.
- Drydock maintenance.
- Drydock operations Vehicle and equipment fueling.
- Engine maintenance and repairs.
it is crucial for marinas and boat yards to Implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to effectively reducing contaminants from pollution sources, particularly in stormwater management. A combination of preventive and treatment BMPs will yield the most effective results in minimizing the offsite discharge of pollutants through stormwater runoff.
Minimizing pollution is not always an easy task. Implementing and maintaining quality BMPs will ease the effort and ensure a healthy ecosystem and operation. KCI is a stormwater environmental services company with expertise in all the industrial sector stormwater management needs. We make industrial site operators look good! Contact us today on 888-346-7779.
