Environmental Protection

Helping to protect and enhance the campus environment and providing permit and compliance management services.

Sewer Overflow Protection Awareness

Help Prevent Sewer Backups and Overflow

Sewer Overflow Protection is a shared responsibility. Everyone can be a potential contributor to sewer problems and a potential victim of those problems. To help keep the campus, the Bay and the environment clean for the health and enjoyment of all, residents, employees, and sewer agencies must do their part to prevent and reduce the risk of a sewer overflow.

Workplace Safety

California state regulations require every employer to establish, implement and maintain an effective Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). In August 2017, the University adopted a campuswide Workplace Safety Program that serves as the University’s central IIPP for creating a safe and healthful work environment. Having one program for the whole University helps to improve access, consistency, and usability across all departments. EH&S is the responsible department for overseeing the campuswide Workplace Safety Program. The campus Workplace Safety Program is based on the Injury...

Water Discharge Regulations/Guidelines

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2005
Guidelines for Discharge of Automatic Fire Sprinkler Water

The following guidelines apply to the design and discharge of automatic fire sprinkler (AFS) water during initial acceptance, periodic testing, or other AFS discharge activities, and are to be followed by all UC Berkeley staff, design consultants and contractors.

Background AFS water is from a potable water source and therefore contains chloramines, which are toxic to aquatic organisms. EH&S understands that AFS water in campus buildings does not under any circumstance contain antifreeze or biocidal agents...

Environmental Protection

Helping to protect and enhance the campus environment and providing permit and compliance management services. icon with 3 leaves in a circle How Do I: collapse all expand all Get rid of waste?

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Get construction plans reviewed?

Plans Review

Regardless of cost or scope, all construction projects at UC Berkeley require consultation with the Campus Fire Marshal.

The Campus Fire Marshal’s office requires submittal of 100% construction documents for review and final approval with signature. A project manager may elect to submit any or all of the following drawings in earlier design phases for review and comment:

Preliminary Design Drawings

Schematic Design Drawings

Design Development...

Stormwater

The EH&S Surface Water Quality program assists campus in surface water pollution prevention and in the restoration of Strawberry Creek on the central campus. Program activities include providing compliance assistance to campus on watershed management and storm water regulations, sampling and analyzing storm water, assessing sources of storm water pollutants on campus, stenciling storm drains and developing educational guidelines and programs. If you have any questions about surface water quality or Strawberry Creek, contact EH&S at (510) 642-3073.

Resources...

Wildfire Smoke

Providing resources and guidance for the UC Berkeley community to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.

Sewer System Management Plans

Wastewater generated at UC Berkeley is conveyed through our sanitary sewer collection systems and eventually flows to EBMUD's wastewater treatment plant in Oakland prior to discharge to the San Francisco Bay.

The Waste Discharge Requirements Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board regulates sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in length (each individual sanitary sewer system).

UC Berkeley maintains regulatory coverage for three collection systems:

Sewer System Management Plans

(All...

Sewer System Management Plan

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2026

Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP)

Best Management Practices for Fats, Oils and Grease

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2023

Residual fats, oils and grease (FOG) are by-products of food preparation. Typically, FOG enters a facility’s plumbing system from ware washing, floor cleaning, and equipment sanitation. Sanitary sewer systems are neither designed nor equipped to handle the FOG that accumulates on the interior of the municipal sewer collection system pipes. Severe accumulations of FOG can lead to sewer overflows that expose the public to raw sewage and the potential for infection from contact with sewage. The best way to manage FOG is to keep the material out of the plumbing systems. The following are...