Resources for Commercial & Businesses

The Town of Boxborough is doing its part to manage stormwater. However, everyone working in Boxborough can help manage stormwater and prevent water pollution. The following practices will help reduce the volume of stormwater created and help prevent pollutants from coming in contact with stormwater.

• Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly to minimize water quality impacts. Fertilizers contain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that can cause too much plant growth such as algae in water bodies. This can lead to problems with boating, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and swimming. Learn more about Fertilizing the Lawn (PDF).
• Practice good lawn care techniques. Leave lawn clippings on the ground, as they decay, they provide a natural fertilizer to the ground. Piles of old grass clippings can cause nutrients and bacteria to enter water bodies. Clean up leaves in the fall to keep them out of water bodies. Learn more about Being a Leaf Hero (PDF).
• Minimize water usage to conserve water. Create a compost pile or bin to use as localized fertilizer but keep it away from wetlands and water bodies.
• Manage winter salt application and storage. Cover stockpiles of salt for use in winter road maintenance. Limit the amount of salt applied. Sweep and properly dispose of any visible salt deposits once the application surface or storage area has dried. Learn more about Guidelines on Road Salt Storage.
• Practice proper building maintenance. Do not use detergent if possible, or use only the smallest amount necessary for the job. Try to minimize or prevent wash water from entering the drainage system or a water body.
• Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn or other unpaved surface. This will minimize the amount of dirty, soapy water flowing into the storm drain and/or water body. Learn more about Car Washing.
• Take care with swimming pool water - don’t discharge into a storm drain or water body. If discharging onto the ground first dechlorinate water. Learn more about Stormwater Pollution Prevention (PDF).
• Encourage infiltration. Install infiltration-based features such as rain gardens and bioswales.
• Sweep paved roads, parking lots, and storage areas with the correct sweeper. Use a type of vacuum sweeper that incorporates High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration or other high-efficiency method of filtration of the exhaust air from the sweeper to trap the very fine metallic particles found in road or parking lot dust reduce these discharges to storm water.