pH Test Kits and Wastewater Treatment

On the average a mobile power wash contractor will generate in excess of 500 gallons of wastewater each day that he washes. As you can see the potential for polluting our Nation’s water resources is tremendous. As professionals and concerned citizens it is incumbent upon us to do everything within our power to preserve our natural resources. To this end I offer the following for your consideration.

pH (p ch ) a chemical symbol.

A measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution numerically equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity. The pH scale commonly in use ranges from 0 to 14.

[ p(otential of) h(ydrogen).]

People in the mobile power wash industry use a pH test kit for measuring the alkalinity or acidity of their wastewater. This is done prior to the discharge of this water to a sanitary sewer system where such is allowed. If the water to be discharged is not within the limits established by the authorities it can be brought into range by adding acid to a high pH or soda ash to low pH waste water which was captured for proper disposal. The most commonly used pH test kit consists of a small roll of red litmus paper and a color/number scale. To test the solution in question you tear off a small strip of the litmus paper and dip one end of the solution. Using the color/number scale provided with your kit you compare the color of the litmus paper that you have dipped in your test solution to the color/number scale and the color/number that matches is the pH value of the solution.

Environmental Impact:

A pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 appears to provide protection for the life of freshwater fish and bottom dwelling invertebrates The most significant environmental impact of pH involves synergistic effects. Synergy involves the combination of two or more substances, which produce effects greater than their sum. Synergy has special significance when considering water and wastewater treatment. The steps involved in water and wastewater treatment require specific pH levels. In order for coagulation [a treatment process] to occur, pH and alkalinity must fall within a limited range.

Sewer Types

Before discharging wastewater to any type of sewer you should check with the local authorities to determine the extent of their requirements.

{One source where this information may be found is on the internet at www.municode.com}

There are basically three types of sewers, they are: Sanitary, Storm, and Combined. Most cities have a Sanitary and a Storm Sewer System. The Sanitary Sewer System is what your home sewer is hooked up to. This system of pipes goes to the sewer treatment plant or Public Owned Treatment Works (POTW). At the POTW the sewage is treated and discharged to lakes, rivers or streams. This is where your wash water needs to go for treatment before being discharged to lakes, rivers and streams.

The Storm Sewer is where the rainwater goes into gutters along the streets and roads. This water is generally discharged directly to lakes, rivers and streams without treatment. Because this water is not remediated before discharge into the environment you should not discharge your wash water to a storm sewer.

Some cities have a combined sewer system where the sanitary and storm sewers are one system and all of the sewage and storm water is treated at the POTW. In these areas the wash water can be discharged to the storm sewer. You will need to call the Sewer Department in each area where you are washing, to determine which system you are discharging to.

Most outside drains are storm sewers and most inside drains are sanitary sewer drains but not always. Be sure to know which is which. If your customer does not know call the Sanitary Sewer Department you are hooked to and they will come out and determine which sewer system each drain is hooked to. In many areas this service is free.

The capacity and capabilities of POTWS vary greatly and so do their discharge limits. Discharge limits are determined by many factors including: the size of the body of water they are discharging to such as a lake, river, stream or ocean, what they are discharging, and the amount they are discharging. The larger the bodies of water the more relaxed are the discharge limits. Because discharge limits and POTW treatment abilities vary, the amount of treatment wash water needs before being discharged to sanitary sewer will also vary from POTW to POTW.

Disposal of Wash Water to the Storm Sewer

Normally you should never dispose of wash water to a storm drain. However, there are common exceptions to this rule. They are: house washing of a home by the owner, vehicle washing at residences, and vehicle washing by charities. Municipalities will generally overlook these transgressions.

Some Cities are allowing cold water washing with no chemicals (other cities hot water washing with no chemicals where there is no oil and grease, dirt only) to go into the storm sewer if these areas contain no hydrocarbons, pesticides, insecticides, or antifreeze. Hot water washing is considered to be PROCESSED WATER because hot water will emulsify oil and greases. Cold water washing is considered no worse than a rain event. The oil and grease spots should be pre-cleaned with absorbent clay (kitty litter) and disposed of in the dumpster. Leaves, debris, and dirt should be cleaned up before washing so this contamination does not enter the storm sewer. Storm Sewer entrances should be screened to catch leaves and debris and the wash water should pass through an oil absorbent boom or pad to absorb the hydrocarbons. No oil sheen should be present after passing through the oil absorbent filter. The lack of chemicals can be compensated for, by using a zero degree rotating nozzle such as a Turbo Nozzle or a Rotomax Zero Degree Rotating Nozzle. Typical washing examples are: Vehicles on Dealer Lots (dust only), sidewalks, shopping malls, parking lots, buildings, and homes.

Some cities will allow building washing with acid cleaners if the acid is neutralized before entering the storm sewer. Typical neutralization is with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), soda ash (sodium carbonate), or an alkaline detergent instead of a clear water rinse. In other cities the cleaning is done with cold water, no chemicals, and rotating zero degree nozzles.

The information offered in this article is intended to give you a springboard from which you can begin your search for information. This is not intended to be the final word on the subject. You should continue your search for information. “Knowledge is Power”.

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