COPPER

Copper pollution is toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Everyday sources include copper-based algaecides for pools/spas/fountains, copper roofs and building features, contaminated sediment, and copper-based brake pad dust from vehicles. Provision C.13 of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit requires implementation of control measures to manage copper-containing runoff and discharges. 

Contra Costa Clean Water Program member agencies help protect local creeks, the Delta, and the San Francisco Bay from copper pollution in several ways, including:

• Managing waste from cleaning and treating copper building features
• Educating residents and businesses on how to prevent discharges from pools, spas and fountains that contain copper-based chemicals
• Street sweeping to keep sediment and brake pad dust out of storm drains
• Inspecting industrial and commercial sites for proper copper controls
• Training inspectors and educating commercial/industrial site managers on Best Management Practices (BMPs) to keep copper from polluting our waterways

Additional information

• Business Inspections | CCCleanWater
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) | CCCleanWater includes brochures
  • Proper surface washing
  • Properly maintaining pools, spas and fountains
  • Car maintenance
• Requirements for Copper Roofs and Other Architectural Copper (PDF)

• Household Hazardous Waste | CCCleanWater
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works information
  • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Pool, Spa or Fountain Discharge Permit (centralsan.org) 
  • Delta Diablo – Businesses page (deltadiablo.org)
  • West County Wastewater – Business page (wcwd.org)

Archive

• Pollutants of Concern Commercial/Industrial Inspector Training Material (PDF from basmaa.org)
  • Technical Memo to BASMAA Municipal Operations Committee from EOA, January 2011
  • Includes industrial and commercial facilities of concern for Copper and other Pollutants of Concern, as well as Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • This and related documents may be found on the BASMAA website Committees Programs & Projects – Municipal Operations (basmaa.org)
• Adopted Basin Plan Amendment (PDF).
  • Includes copper site-specific objectives in San Francisco Bay. 
  • Read more at Basin Plan Chapter 3 | San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

• Draining Pools & Spas (PDF) (brochure, older version)