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”.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Hinckley

Car Wash Drainage Slope and Gutters to Collect Rain Water and Dripping Run Off

Should all carwashes being built in the future be commissioned to collect all the water coming off the cars to be recycled and reused? Should all rain water coming onto the property, perhaps even adjoining properties be sent thru a similar system to treat, filter and condition the water to be used to wash cars?

Could you build a car wash which relied on rain storm water with reservoirs and recycling using all the water over and over again to prevent waste, conserve water and perhaps even not have any city water hook ups or sewer discharges at all; a perfectly environmentally friendly car wash system for the twenty first century? Well, yes this is all possible. How so you ask?

Well recently a smart Business Marketing Student came up with this concept and pitched the idea to an online think tank, to ask them if; A) Anyone had ever done this before and B) If there was equipment already available which could be used to make it possible.

It appears our fellow Marketing Student and Thinker, Paula Chavis, has hit the jackpot on both accounts. In that yes such equipment does exist and it would only be a matter of installing it and no, no one has ever done anything like this on this level or scale to my knowledge. Previously before retirement, I was indeed in the car wash industry myself.

How could this best be done? Well with a series of dips or concrete canals thru the parking lot which were indented about 2-3 inches like a reverse speed bump and with all areas sloped towards it. Adjacent property run off could also be collected, by use of small grated troughs running along their perimeters and towards the car wash, which would include all rain gutter run off too. The car wash would always have plenty of water and would not need city water hook up, but rather a large reservoir of pre-filtrated storm water run off.

Currently in the car wash industry there are plenty of fully self-contained close loop systems, which recycle the water and reuse it over and over again. This concept would be taking that concept to a whole new level. Indeed there is 5-7 gallons loss of water thru evaporation during the drying process and ending up on the towels and/or left on the car wash property while dripping. Most of this would then be collected unless a super hot day. Additionally the water that drips off the car as it drives down the street from the car wash would then be compensated for by the collection of storm water from the rain and the run off from the adjacent properties. Consider all this n 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Mobile Car Wash Waste Water Run Off

If you are going to run a mobile car wash you will need to make sure that you do not allow water to enter a storm drain, as that is illegal and those drains are meant for actually rain water.

Blocking storm drains is easy and then allow the water to evaporate a little and take what is left in the waste tank. Next you will want to make pre-arrangements to get rid of the water for instance contact the city or make a deal with a Coin Op car wash to dump the carwash waste water there which will go into their system properly.

Or you can divert the water if possible into vegetation and that should comply with the NPDES permitting, but be sure to run this by the local water quality control board or city.

One of the easiest ways to collect the wastewater is to dam up the flow towards the storm drain or block the storm drain completely. You can buy a vacuum, which both sucks and pumps the water from a Wal-Mart for about $79.00 and attach a garden hose to it to suck up any collected wastewater. Then you can put it into a small storage tank on your pick-up or trailer unit to remove it from the property.

There are other solutions also, which may include using a mat to wash on and there are a few companies, which sell these; “Car Wash Mats” or “Auto Detailing Mats” that you can purchase. I hope you will protect our Nation’s water supply and consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

The Scoop on Water Waste

Most people make little thought to water waste from sprinkler leaks, pipe leaks and other leakage in and around their homes. However, it is a water conservation and environmental issue.

Waste water can have chemicals and other debris mixed in with it and thus can be harmful to the environment. For example, water waste from commodes. If this ran off into lawns and sewers, it could travel directly to water sources like nearby ponds and contaminate them, harming fish, ducks and other wildlife and as well as plant life.

In a similar manner, waste water passing through yards sprayed with chemicals or falling off of roofs that may have harsh chemicals on the shingles or other roofing materials may also house contaminants. And these can be passed along to sewers, ponds, wildlife, plant life and more, too.

Helpful Solutions

Main ways to help work towards improving water waste scenarios include preventative solutions, maintenance and repair work. Practice water conservation, too, so that there is plenty of good water around for all animals, plants and mankind. Here are some helpful tips:

Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering. Saves 750-1,500 gallons per month. Better yet, especially in times of drought, water with a hose.

1. Repair any leaky plumbing fixtures, joints and faucets and plumbing joints as soon as you detect them and check regularly to make sure you have no more leaks.

3. When using your outdoor hose, use it sparingly. For example, if you are washing your siding, turn off the water while you scrub any tough areas with a soft soap, instead of leaving the water run off in the yard the entire time.

4. Stop taking full force showers every day. Use a lighter spraying head and take shorter showers.

5. You can and should wash some dishes by hand and stop using the dishwasher all the time. If it’s full, fine. If not, run a half sink or less of water, wash the few dishes, and call it quits.

6. Install commodes with conservation flushing modes that don’t use as much water per flush. Check with hardware / plumbing stores for these.

7. Stop watering your driveway along with your lawn. Adjust the spraying mechanism. And use a broom to sweep your drive.

John Mayer owns FloodCheck USA which can help you prevent water waste. You can see a full line of Water Leak Detection Devices at Floodcheckusa.com

Waste Water Disposal BMP for a Mobile Dog Grooming Van Gray Water Tank

The waste wash water from mobile dog grooming is considered gray water and therefore it needs to be properly handled to prevent pollution of ground water. There is soap and bio-issues with this water and thus this must be considered when designing an operating procedure manual and BMP best management practice for mobile dog groomers.

Why Can't I Just Drain My Water Into the Gutter?

If you drain your waste water into the gutter you are breaking the law, as that water goes into a storm drain and into a river, stream, ocean, lake or wildlife area. So you cannot do that as you are most likely breaking the NPDES permits for your city.

What I recommend is rather simple. Go to Wal-Mart or Sears/Kmart and buy a shop vacuum that sucks and pumps. They cost between $50.00 and $145.00 and this will help you with your proper discharging to the sanitary sewer system.

You need to hook the vacuum up to the drain plug on the wash water holding tank and then connect to the other output on the vacuum using a hose and run it into the house to your toilet, turn on the vacuum open the drain and leave your toilet float down. This is a good BMP for your small dog grooming business.

You should also tell the local municipal code enforcement that, this is what you are doing; he should be fine with it. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Fixing Our Regulatory Sewage and Minutia Problems

Some believe that Sarbanes Oxley was necessary to help investors. They say that were problems pre-Sarbanes Oxley and that there was: “no real scrutiny of the "self-regulated" audit firms who at the time were attempting to bolster consulting fees by telling clients what they wanted to hear.” And that Sarbanes Oxley was necessary; well we know that is complete and utter hokum, what we should have done was simply get rid of all the accountants? Lawyers, Regulators and allow businesses to run free?

If the lawyers are considered crooks by regulators, and the accountants are considered such too. Why not ditch them and let buyer, investor beware, educate them in Due diligence? How can a pea head regulator know what is right? Have they ever had to make a payroll? Have they even ever worked a lemonade stand?

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Those who endorse the efforts of the regulators and folks like Elliot Spitzer fail to realize the inefficiencies this causes in companies and those additional costs are passed on to consumers, the same consumers that the Attorneys Generals and Federal Regulators are to be protecting. Just because some mutual fund companies are trading after hours and have been for decades does not mean the consumer is harmed?

No need to take more money out of the market. Dot Com crash, Telecom crash and Enron issues took 7 Trillion dollars out of the market, this is not a zero sum game, it friggin evaporated, why? Senator Sarbanes in my opinion is a complete moron, Oxley I have never met. As far as the political ambitions of Elliot Spitzer, that is another story. Investors and those who believe Sarbanes Oxley is good for America fail to realize that just because a hedge fund is cheating, does not mean they all suck.

Many who invest in Hedge Funds know it is a high-risk game, you play you accept that, but they move faster because Reg D was created for experienced and wealth investors. Which it should be and should stay, SEC’s Cox is wrong to take away the ability and the right to free contract and bombard it with regulations. The government regulators just want their fingers, no actually penises, up everyone's anuses.

Those companies or Reg D Hedge Funds which are good, will draw in the right folks, those that are bad will sink. If you are looking for high stakes and big returns it should be allowed. If you are low risk, do something else. There were many rock solid plays in the Dot Com days, which everyone knew most had days which were numbered.

When seven trillion leaves the market that quickly, everyone loses even the good solid, low ratios of assets to earnings, not just the Dot Com high-tech sectors with book to bill ratios in perpetual orbit. The regulators are the ones which ruin the economy and cause negative sectors in our markets. They are traitors to Capitalism, Free Markets and Country. Should they be shot? You decide, think on it.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Biosolids aka Sewer Sludge What You Don't Know

Picture everything that goes down your sink and toilet in addition to human waste; such as medicines, cleaners, dyes, spoiled food. drain cleaners, cosmetics, pesticides, solvents, etc. Now consider what else in your vicinity uses the public sewer system (i.e. hospitals and mortuaries, animal clinics and pet shops. All may be adding a nice infectious blend of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Now add in businesses and industry (auto painting and repair shops, furniture stripping, dry cleaning, metal plating, printing shops, and all types of manufacturing. We're talking asbestos, lead, mercury, PCB's, dioxins, flourans and hundreds of other man-made chemicals.

Our public sewer system carries this material to waste water treatment plants, whose chief job is to treat the water to release back into streams, rivers, and oceans. What's left over is sewer sludge; a nasty concentrated muck, which is considered too toxic to dump in oceans or put into landfills. In fact, the more efficient the treatment plant, the more toxic the biosolid (sewer sludge).

So let's spread sewer sludge on the land and call it 'beneficial biosolids! This is exactly what's happening across the nation, thanks to the EPA and the public relations departments of the waste industry.

The EPA goes on further to give 'excellent quality' ratings to sludge if it is composted for as little as two months! Composted or not, sewer sludge toxicities vary depending on the location of the treatment plant, what industries are in the area, and what is dumped down the sewer on any given day. Product uniformity therefore, is inconsistent, even without considering accidental spills, illegal dumping, or the cumulative effects of applying biosolids to the same land year after year.

Homeowners, if aware of the above, may be outraged and insist on not using biosolids (sewer sludge). Landscape contractors should be aware of potential liabilities from employees and customers. Municipalities should also be aware of sewer sludge products applied to parks, recreation areas, and stream bank restoration projects.

For back ground research information regarding this topic visit the Cornel Waste Management Institute website at cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Sludge.html

News release provided by Conrad Cain

For Organic and Green Living information please visit:http://www.mygreennetwork.com/