How does concrete washout affect our environment, and more specifically our waterways?
Well, consider the fact that there are over 210 cement plants and 5,000 ready mix plants in the US, and consumption averaged a 5.5 % growth in 2006 reaching a new record. This amount of concrete production is why construction sites have been identified by the EPA as a hazard due to the high potential for urban runoff pollution. Concrete washout is caustic and can contain alkalinity levels as high as pH 12. Water with high alkaline levels becomes toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
What about the danger to humans? Is there any?
Although there has been no documentation of harmful effects to humans through the water supply, there have been documented harms from direct contact with unhardened concrete and other concrete mixtures. These include skin irritation, severe third-degree chemical burns, serious eye damage and allergic contact dermatitis. Concrete wastewater can include; Suspended Solids – Cement, fly ash particles, sand, dirt, etc., as well as caustic wastewater – Water with a PH level of more than 11 units. Knowing this, would you let your children drink water that could potentially contain concrete washout?
What about water conservation? Using the EnviroWash System, how much fresh water can be saved?
In addition to the environmental impact, another equally important factor to consider is conservation of our natural water supply. In a time when states are fighting over water rights and our natural water supply is dwindling at an alarming rate, we need to do everything possible to not only protect the current water supply, but also conserve it. The EnviroWash system provides an easy and cost-effective way to help win this fight. Because the ready-mix and concrete pump truck drivers can utilize our recycled water instead of bringing their own fresh water, fresh water usage to clean concrete washouts is decreased by up to 90%. For example, at a local turnkey post tension concrete business;
If the EnviroWash System were used at all of the company’s job sites, they would have used around 80,000 gallons in 2005 and 65,000 gallons in 2006. Equaling a water savings in 2005 and 2006 of between 1,350,000 and 1,650,000 gallons of fresh water. These figures do not take into account concrete pump trucks. These trucks use approximately 50 to 80 gallons each time they clean out.
What about EPA compliance? Does the EnviroWash meet the current standards?
The EnviroWash meets and exceeds current EPA standards for concrete washout. It exceeds current standards by conserving water with the closed loop recycling process, preventing nearly 100% rain water contamination by its closed container design, and eliminating overflow and leakage that can cause storm drain contamination. It also, unlike all other concrete washout solutions, actually conserves fresh water as well as preventing rainwater and groundwater contamination.
Current best practices: Are they really the best?
The United States EPA has addressed the urban runoff pollution issue through the US Clean Water Act by mandating certain criteria to help protect our water supply. These criteria mandate the use of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) on construction sites. If these practices are not followed and implemented according to EPA guidelines, there are hefty fines to face.
Currently, the BMP’s for concrete washout include prefabricated washout containers as the primary BMP and self-installed concrete washouts as an alternative. Although both of these offer solutions to containing washout, they share several common problems – overflow and leakage causing storm drain contamination, rainwater contamination, misuse, and lack of water conservation. Rain contamination from the current type of EPA recommended washout pit can be reduced by upwards of 80-90% with the new EnviroWash technology.
What are the components of the EnviroWash?
The EnviroWash system is comprised of 5 core components: Hinged hoppers, central walkway, pumping system, forced weir tank system, and the control box. These five core components are what make EnviroWash the best solution available for environmentally friendly washouts.
The EnviroWash system is currently available in three styles, which can be adapted to any job site, from a one time concrete placement to the largest ready-mix plant. The EnviroWash system is able to handle anywhere from one ready-mix truck to filtering the water used to clean all of the trucks at the largest ready-mix plant.
What about safety?
All of the water storage areas in the EnviroWash are covered, vented and lockable to prevent any rain, person or anything else from coming in contact with the caustic material or the water inside. This should save tens of millions of gallons of valuable water from being lost and contaminated in Texas alone.
Who produces the EnviroWash?
The EnviroWash system was created and is licensed and produced by Waste Crete Systems, LLC for use throughout Texas. Licenses for the patent-pending system are sold to private businesses and government entities throughout the nation for the use and implementation of EnviroWash’s innovative and environmentally friendly technology in other states.