Nonpoint Source Pollution: Car Washing’s Contribution

Karen Alden, MPH StudentWalden University

PUBH 6165-1Instructor: Dr. Howard Rubin

Spring, 2011

Objectives

Define nonpoint source pollutants

Identify how they enter our water supply

Identify responsibility

Define the problem

Offer solutions

What is Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution?

Natural

Human-made

Source: Environment Protection Agency (2010). What is nonpoint source pollution? Retrieved from www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatis.html on April 15, 2010.

How do NPS pollutants enter our water supply?

Source: Environment Protection Agency (2010). What is nonpoint source pollution? Retrieved from www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatis.html on April 15, 2010.

Crucial Car Pollutants

Toxic Cleaning Solutions

Polluted Wash Runoff

Storm Drains

Ashuelot/Connecticut Rivers

Our Responsibility!

United States 25% of U.S. population are chronic car washers 27 million potential residential car wash polluters

Keene Equivalent to 5,852 potential residential car wash

polluters

Source: S. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (2010). Residential car washing. Retrieved from: cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=96 on

May 2, 2011.

…but 1st a HISTORY

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Phase I, 1992

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Phase II, 1999

Dept of Ecology, 2008

The Problem with Residential Car Washing

55-70% of households wash their cars at home

60% of residents at least once a month

70-90% of residents indicated the car wash water drained into the street.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2005). National management measures to control nonpoint source pollution from urban areas, Management measure 9: Pollution prevention . Retrieved from:water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/urban/upload/2005_12_08_NPS_urbanmm_urban_ch09.pdf on April 24, 2011.

The Problem with Car Wash Fundraising

2,000-7,000 gallons of water/event (2002)

A single event equivalent to a 6,000 gallon sewage spill.

Collectively equivalent to 23 Exxon Valdez oil spills/yr in the continental U.S. (2002)

Source: New England Car Wash Association (2009). Answers to consumer questions about car washing. Retrieved from:www.newenglandcarwash.org/feature/2733/answers-to-consumer-questions-about-car-washing.htm on May 2, 2011.

The Pollutants

Crucial Pollutants Petroleum hydrocarbon waste

Gasoline, diesel, motor oil, fluids, lubricants

Nutrients Phosphorous and nitrogen

Ammonia Surfactants Solids

Source: City of Federal Way Public Works Dept./Surface Water Management Division (2009). Residential car washwater monitoring study.

What Harm Do These Pollutants Cause?

Petroleum hydrocarbon waste Highly toxic Harm through contact, ingestion, destruction of

ecosystem Quantity toxic substance/Affected Surface Area Ratio

Nutrients Promotion of eutrophication Promotion of algal blooms

Source: City of Federal Way Public Works Dept./Surface Water Management Division (2009). Residential car washwater monitoring study.

What Harm Do These Pollutants Cause? (cont.)

Ammonia Toxicity to fish

Surfactants Toxicity to aquatic life

Solids Most common pollutant Decrease suitability for humans and aquatic life

Source: City of Federal Way Public Works Dept./Surface Water Management Division (2009). Residential car washwater monitoring study.

Car Washing Pollution Solutions

Prevention Pollution Program Development Residents Charity Organizations Car Wash Businesses

Containment Equipment Available Catch-basin insert with sump pump Vacuum/boom device “Bubble Buster”

Car Washing Pollution Solution Costs

Containment Equipment Catch basin insert

Approx $65 Vacuum/boom device “Bubble Buster”

Ranging $2,000 - $2,500

Source: U.S. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (2010). Residential car washing. Retrieved from: cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=96 on

May 2, 2011.

Car Washing Pollution Solution Costs (cont.)

Staffing/Materials Sound Car Wash Program-Kitsap County, WA (25 wk

program) Staff time 1-15 hrs/wk Materials and Equipment $1,500 to 3,000

Clean Bay Car Wash Kits Program-Tacoma, WA (annual program) Staff time < 2 wks/yr Equipment $2,000/yr

Source: U.S. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (2010). Residential car washing. Retrieved from: cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=96 on May 2, 2011.

Car Washing Pollution Solution Savings

75,000 U.S. professional car wash operators

Specialized technology

Federal compliance of environmentally harmful substances

1 million gallons saved/1 professional car wash operator

Source: New England Car Wash Association (2009). Answers to consumer questions about car washing. Retrieved from:www.newenglandcarwash.org/feature/2733/answers-to-consumer-questions-about-car-washing.htm on May 2, 2011.

Connecticut River Watershed

Additional Sources

www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatis.html

www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatudo.html

www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/solution_to_pollution.pdf

National Management Measures to Control NPS from Urban Areas, water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/urban/upload/2005_12_08_NPS_urbanmm_urban_ch09.pdf

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov.

Residential Car Washwater Monitoring Study, http://www.carwash.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/2009%20FW%20CarWash%20water%20Monitoring%20Study.pdf

Stormwater strategies: Community responses to runoff pollution.www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap2.asp

University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, www.unh.edu/unhsc.

References

City of Federal Way, Public Works Department, Surface Water Management Division (2009). Residential car washwater monitoring study. Retrieved from http://www.carwash.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/2009%20FW%20CarWash%20water%20Monitoring%20Study.pdf on May2, 2011.

Environmental Protection Agency (2003). Making your home the solution to stormwater pollution: A homeowner’s guide to healthy habits for clean water. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/solution_to_pollution.pdf on April 24, 2011.

Environmental Protection Agency (2005). National management measures to control nonpoint source pollution from urban areas, Management measure 9: Pollution prevention. Retrieved from water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/urban/upload/2005_12_08_NPS_urbanmm_urban_ch09.pdf on April 24, 2011.

Environment Protection Agency (2010). What is nonpoint source pollution? Retrieved from www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatis.html on April 15, 2010.

Environmental Protection Agency (2010). What you can do to prevent NPS pollution. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/whatudo.html on April 15, 2010.

Massachusetts Energy & Environmental Affairs (2011). Connecticut river watershed. Retrieved from www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Air%2C+Water+%26+Climate+Change&L2=Preserving+Water+Resources&L3=Massachusetts+Watersheds&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_water_connecticut&csid=Eoeea on May 15, 2011

References (cont.)

Natural Resources Defense Council (1999). Stormwater strategies: Community responses to runoff pollution. Retrieved from www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap2.asp on May 2, 2011.

New England Car Wash Association (2009). Answers to consumer questions about car washing. Retrieved from www.newenglandcarwash.org/feature/2733/answers-to-consumer-questions-about-car-washing.htm on May 2, 2011.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (2003). Perspectives on the coastal nonpoint program. Retrieved from www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag112.htm on May 15, 2011.

United States Census Bureau (2010). American factfinder. Retrieved from factfinder2.census.gov on March 23, 2010.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (2010). Residential car washing. Retrieved from U.S. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (2010). Residential car washing. Retrieved from cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=96 on May 2, 2011.