HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 5/1
adopted 14 March 1984, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention
RECOMMENDATION REGARDING LIMITATION OF OIL IN STORMWATER SYSTEMS
THE, COMMISSION,
RECALLING that according to Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), the Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances,
RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the Helsinki Convention defines oil as a noxious substance for the purposes of Article 6 of the Convention,
BEING MINDFUL that a considerable part of oil pollution of the marine environment is caused by oil contaminated waters discharged via stormwater systems,
RECOGNIZING a need for limiting oil pollution from stormwater systems applying efficient treatment of oil contaminated waters,
RECOMMENDS to the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention that:
a) oily process, cooling and other waters from production plants, service stations, mechanical workshops and other plants as well as storm waters from areas where oil is handled or stored should not without effective water pollution control measures be connected to a stormwater system; and
b) oily waters from plants and areas already connected to a stormwater system should without delay be investigated and measures taken accordingly, including, for instance:
- collection of oily wastes at the source;
- collection and separate treatment of oil polluted waters;
- limitation of quantity of oil polluted waters discharged to stormwater systems; and
- connection of, if necessary, pretreated waters to municipal sewers.