How Does Carpet Cleaning Affect Stormwater?

• Toxic chemicals and discharged waste water from carpets, drapery, furniture and window cleaning often end up in the city’s storm drain system and flow untreated into our local rivers and streams.
• The chemicals involved in carpet cleaning contaminate our drinking water source an threaten the aquatic ecosystem.

Proper Disposal

NOTE: These guidelines apply even if product is labeled “nontoxic” or “biodegradable.” Although these products are less harmful to the environment, they can still have harmful effects if they enter the storm drain untreated.

• Wastewater from cleaning equipment must be discharged into a sink, toilet or other drain connected to the sanitary sewer system within sanitary sewer discharge limits, or hauled off and disposed of properly.
• Wastewater should never be discharged into a street, gutter, parking lot or storm drain.
• Carpet cleaning wastewater should be filtered before discharging it to the sanitary sewer since fibers and other debris in the wastewater can clog pipes.
• Filtered material can be disposed of in the garbage, as long as the waste is not contaminated with hazardous pollutants.

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