CLEAN WATER

The Clean Water Act regulates any discharges to ground water.  To help protect our ground water and to help Stony Brook University comply with The Clean Water Act, Environmental Health & Safety has the responsibility to oversee Stony Brook University's State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit. Some of the responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Monthly sampling to check discharges to groundwater
• Regular inspections of the recharge basins for a visible sheen of oil
• Periodic short-term extensive testing when required
• Working with facility operations to reduce the discharge of pollutants and recommending the use of secondary containment for any hazard that could discharge to groundwater
• Cleaning oil or chemical spills that could reach the storm drains
• Keeping information on SPDES permit up-to-date and modifying our permit as required
• Installing ground water monitoring wells at strategic locations around campus
• Overseeing the biannual sampling of ground water monitoring wells by contractor
• Monthly visual checks of ground water at monitoring wells

• Never dispose of hazardous materials by dumping them outside or down the drain
• Always use secondary containment for hazardous materials that could discharge to storm drains (even road salt needs to be stored under cover)
• Remember that the sewage treatment plant can only treat sanitary waste not hazardous materials
• Acids and bases can upset the treatment plant by killing the bio organisms
• Heavy metals can concentrate in the sludge, making it a hazardous waste
• Solvents can pose a hazard to the workers at the plant, and they also pass through untreated into the Long Island Sound
• Detergents, soaps and wetting agents cause foaming in the aeration tank that upsets the treatment plant
• Never change your oil or antifreeze on campus
• Clean-up oil or chemical spills that could reach the storm drains
• Report any oil or antifreeze leaks to University Police (631) 632-3333 or Environmental Health & Safety at (631) 632-6410
• Use organic fertilizer and pesticides with lower levels of nitrogen on your lawn, and only apply at the recommended amounts
• Yard waste left for pick-up should be bagged at the curb and not left loose in the gutter where it can wash into the storm drains
• Remember that water discharging to our storm drains will become our drinking water in the future

• Works with the campus community to reduce the discharge of pollutants and recommends the use of secondary containment for any hazard that could discharge to the sanitary sewer system
• Work with facility services to ensure back flow prevention devices are used and maintained for any connection to SCDPW water lines
• Cleans oil or chemical spills that could reach the sanitary sewer system
• Takes a positive approach with regulators and works with SCDPW to track-down and eliminate unlawful discharges
• Keeps information on Discharge Certificate up-to-date and modifies our certificate as required
• Promotes waste reduction programs that also include water conservation
• Protect the ground water by complying with the requirements of its SPDES permit
• Maintain records for the amount of well water that is used for noncontact cooling water. This water is nonpotable and should not be used for drinking water.