March
7
What is the environmental consequence of black top sealant down a storm drain?
Posted In: Environmental by admin
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Somebody came to my neighbor’s house and put black top sealer on his driveway. It rained about 5 hours later and black stuff came down the street into the storm drain. What is the environmental impact?
The consequences are not good. If you live where the storm drains go directly to sea it would be bad enough, but if they drain into a reservoir or a river where the water will be piped out it could be a disaster.
I live in a city where the drains go to our reservoir and we’re constantly reminded to keep them clean and free of dirty stuff like drain-oil, lawn care chemicals and even excess dog poo. Black top sealer would probably get a Homeowner a hefty fine in these parts.
The consequences are not good. If you live where the storm drains go directly to sea it would be bad enough, but if they drain into a reservoir or a river where the water will be piped out it could be a disaster.
I live in a city where the drains go to our reservoir and we’re constantly reminded to keep them clean and free of dirty stuff like drain-oil, lawn care chemicals and even excess dog poo. Black top sealer would probably get a homeowner a hefty fine in these parts.
References :
It’s best to answer this question by thinking about what the stuff is, and where the stuff goes.
Blacktop sealer is composed mainly of organic carbon molecules left over from the processing of petroleum products, mixed in with heavy inorganic particulate. The organic solvents are the chemicals of concern…
Now, the storm drain usually has quite a distance to cover before it reaches its discharge point. The particulate will most likely settle and not cause any harm, while the organic compounds become suspended in the water – where they can easily travel to the receiving water body.
Depending on the amount released, the environmental impact of this event is probably minimal. However, on a larger scale – in which thousands of coated driveways within an area release small amounts, the pollution will be more concentrated.
If concentrations are high enough, certain species of bugs or fish can be impacted, however this one event is most likely not going to have a significant impact.
References :
environmental consultant