Need Help w/ Source From Recent SSCWN

[Andyjmyr]

I was reading the latest issue of the SSCWN when I came across an interesting part about driveway washing and oil.

I'm not sure what page its on but it says something like the Exxon Valdez spilled 10 million gallons of oil into the ocean. Compare that to the 150 or 200 million gal. of oil put into the waterways each year from driveway washing.

I thought this would make a great reader board message. Only, I wish I could find the source for this information. Tried checking the ICA website but I'm not sure where to navigate.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

-Andy

 

[robert roman]

Andy,

I would tread very lightly in trying to use this type of claim as proof positive that driveway and parking lot washing necessarily leads to huge amounts of oil contamination of waterways.

First of all, published claims that driveway washing causes oil contamination and fish kills in waterways are almost always based on practical testing. This means runoff solutions are collected and prepared to represent actual conditions.

Second, these studies are based on very broad assumptions. For example, all of the waste water makes it to the storm sewer (and tributary) and everyone washing uses the same commonly available carwash detergent.

However, if you consider the mass balance technique, you can practically use intuition to ponder that the annual amount of oil and other contamination from driveway washing is miniscule when compared to the annual amount of contamination that is washed off roof-tops, parking lots and roadways when it rains or snow melts.

After working as an environmental program manager for ten years, I came to the general conclusion that environmentalists will often resort to using the same type of spin techniques that private companies and corporations use to make claims about their products or services.

 

[Andyjmyr]

This is why I'm looking for the "source" of the information.

If memory serves me correct, some car wash, maybe Brown Bear?? funded a study not long ago.

Research methods aside, the message is good for being environmentally friendly. I don't think I'd put it word for word but its good information to know. Again, this is why I'd like to know the source before doing anything about it.

 

[robert roman]

Look at these threads.

http://www.carwash.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Fish Toxicity.pdf

There is even more information in the following thread.

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb9/boar.../comments/Jim_Fitzpatrick_Pronto_Car_Wash.pdf

 

[soapy]

The scource mentioned in the article you are talking about came right from the head of the EPA. The article spells out exactly where it came from. Another good article on this subject was published a few years ago in StormWater magazine. Brown Bear carwash did fund a study and the city of Federal Way in washington did a follow up study on driveway washing. I think the Federal way study was published in the local paper there.

 

[Andyjmyr]

Interesting stuff Robert. Thanks for the articles. Thanks for the input soapy. I did find the EPA study you were talking about.

Pretty ironic that article showed up in the SSCWN during the BP oil spill. I think changes in trends, especially with the newer generation (my generation, gen y) are going to be more environmental. Hopefully information like this can be persuasive.