Street Sweepers

The equipment used to perform street sweeping may be powered by diesel fuel and utilize petroleum-based hydraulic fluids and lubricants. Leaks from equipment or spills during refueling or maintenance can contaminate storage yards or be carried by stormwater into storm drainage systems and migrate directly or indirectly to surface waters.

Street sweeping debris may be accumulated and stored at the street sweeping company’s facility, municipal facilities, or other storage locations. If the debris is not stored on impervious surfaces and covered with waterproof materials, contaminant volatilization, run-off, run-on, leaching, or fugitive dust emissions may occur. Run-off of pollutants and particulates could migrate to surface waters.

Mechanical sweepers are effective at picking up debris and coarse materials but less effective at collecting finer particles. The finer particles can be transported by surface run-off to impact water bodies. These finer particles can also build up and clog storm drains, leading to flooding.

Street sweepings are not as clean as virgin earth materials and can contain low levels of chemical compounds. Zinc and copper are the most common metals contained in road sediments. Sodium and compounds associated with road salt, asphalt, and motor oils can also be found.

Some cities allow street sweepers to use recycled water to control dust during operations. The use of recycled water comes with various environmental risks. Controls must be in place to prevent incidental run-off into storm drain systems so that recycled water will not spray on drinking water fountains, passing vehicles, buildings, or areas where food is handled or eaten. Failure to implement these controls could result in bodily injury claims or impacts to surface water bodies.

Some street sweeping operations may fuel their equipment from on-site fuel tanks or perform equipment maintenance at their facilities. Tanks can have leaks or spills occur due to failures in integrity, vandalism, or human error. Spills or releases can also occur during receipt of fuel or fuel dispensing. Maintenance activities could present environmental risks, including handling and storing maintenance or waste fluids.

Street sweepers must dispose of accumulated street sweepings. They may also generate other wastes, such as automotive fluids, from the maintenance of trucks or equipment. Disposal of these wastes can lead to liability for the cleanup at non-owned disposal facilities.

Cleaning of street sweeping equipment may be performed at a company’s facility or a third-party washing facility. Wash water may contain grit, oil and grease, phosphates, organics, detergents, or fuel residues. If not properly controlled, contained, and pre-treated before discharge into sanitary or storm drainage systems, surface water or groundwater pollution and violations of water quality standards could occur.