Protect local streams, the Puget Sound, Fish, and Orcas

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Protect local streams, the Puget Sound, Fish, and Orcas
Written By: Whirlwind Clean & Green Team ~ 8/29/2019

Tymco600_09062018s.jpgSweeper09062018s.jpgOne of the EPA’s #1 recommended Best Management Practice is to sweep to reduce the amount of pollutants entering local rivers, lakes, and streams. Sweeping with Regenerative Air Vacuum Trucks is one of the best BMP’s for Stormwater as the air used to gather the material isn’t redistributed back into the air. Any trash, sediment, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, oil, rubber from tires, and grease are all pollutants reduced to help the environment. It is also 1/3 the cost of cleaning these pollutants out of these storm system devices with vactor trucks once it ends up in catch basins, vaults, swales, and ponds.

RetailPressureWashing09062018s.jpgAfter sweeping pressure washing can get all the tough grease and oil spots that may be left to get a really deep clean on your parking lots and sidewalks. Pressure washing is especially important around all dumpsters and grease enclosures. When pressure washing water should be reclaimed and properly disposed of, as soaps, detergents, or any other chemical can’t go into the storm system. We also suggest placing landscape fabric over all storm grates to stop debris from washing into the drains, this will eliminate future maintenance costs of having your drains cleaned.

SpillRevised09062018s.jpgCleaning out your storm drains before the influx of water we get with fall rain is very important as you get all the oil, dirt, and debris out of the drains before the water comes through and washes it into local waterways such as streams, rivers, and lakes. The best way to clean out storm drains is with a vactor truck. Another measure is to install catch-basin filters or to clean them if they are already installed. The filters sit in the lid of catch-basins and filter out key contaminants and pollutants from stormwater runoff.

BigstockSockeyeSalmon09062018s.jpgOrcas09062018s.jpgOnce oil, dirt, and debris get into local waterways they can harm the fish as well as other plants and animals in the waterways and near them. There have been studies on the effect of stormwater runoff on Coho salmon and it concluded that one or more substances in the runoff causes mortality. When fish populations are down other animals higher up in the food chain suffer as well. Orcas in particular are struggling throughout the world and the Puget Sound as they eat salmon, mainly chinook, which has a dwindling population. This makes the already endangered Orcas very stressed over food causing them to not have a successful birth in over 3 years. Toxins and vessel traffic are also believed to be responsible for the hardship of these whales as Orcas carry the highest levels of pollution of any marine animal.

SalmonMap09062018s.jpgFish will be coming up the ladders soon and will be able to be seen jumping up the streams, we don't want to see them jumping through a film of oil though. Help protect our fragile environment in the Northwest. Call or email us today for a free estimate for sweeping, pressure washing, or our vactor services to keep contaminants out of your storm drains and local waterways.

 

 

 

 


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