How To Keep Waste Oil Out Of The Water Supply
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Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles—or outright dumped by homeowners and commercial garages—constitutes a significant chunk of storm water runoff, the fallen precipitation that runs off of roads and parking lots and inevitably finds its way into local water bodies.
These pollutants include not only leaked motor oil—which may contain toxic substances like lead, benzene, zinc, or magnesium—but also fertilizers, insecticides, plastic debris, cigarette butts, paints, solvents, sediments, and other hazardous waste. Topsoil and natural vegetation would ordinarily filter many of these pollutants out, but the impermeable pavement that covers much of the surface where these pollutants originate carries it right into storm drains and into streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean where it can poison marine life as well as entire riparian or coastal ecosystems.
This pollution also finds its way into underground aquifers that supply our drinking water, so reducing it is a human health measure and could also save municipalities millions of dollars a year in drinking water treatment facilities and operational expenses.
While government agencies try to craft and implement development and zoning standards to help reduce storm water runoff problems caused by commercial and industrial entities, there is still much that individuals can do to reduce their impact as well. Indeed, upwards of 40 percent of oil pollution in the U.S. comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil by individuals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping on top of automotive maintenance to prevent and repair leaks, and disposing of used motor oil and other automotive fluids and batteries at designated drop-offs or recycling locations. Also, it is preferable to wash cars at a commercial car wash instead of in a driveway. By law, car washes must treat their wastewater before disposing of it.
Taking these small everyday steps may seem like a hassle, but the benefits for the environment and human health are immeasurable.
These pollutants include not only leaked motor oil—which may contain toxic substances like lead, benzene, zinc, or magnesium—but also fertilizers, insecticides, plastic debris, cigarette butts, paints, solvents, sediments, and other hazardous waste. Topsoil and natural vegetation would ordinarily filter many of these pollutants out, but the impermeable pavement that covers much of the surface where these pollutants originate carries it right into storm drains and into streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean where it can poison marine life as well as entire riparian or coastal ecosystems.
This pollution also finds its way into underground aquifers that supply our drinking water, so reducing it is a human health measure and could also save municipalities millions of dollars a year in drinking water treatment facilities and operational expenses.
While government agencies try to craft and implement development and zoning standards to help reduce storm water runoff problems caused by commercial and industrial entities, there is still much that individuals can do to reduce their impact as well. Indeed, upwards of 40 percent of oil pollution in the U.S. comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil by individuals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping on top of automotive maintenance to prevent and repair leaks, and disposing of used motor oil and other automotive fluids and batteries at designated drop-offs or recycling locations. Also, it is preferable to wash cars at a commercial car wash instead of in a driveway. By law, car washes must treat their wastewater before disposing of it.
Taking these small everyday steps may seem like a hassle, but the benefits for the environment and human health are immeasurable.
