When in sufficient quantities, detergents, even the biodegradable ones, can have a toxic effect on a wide variety of marine life! All detergents ruin the protective external mucus layers of fish, leaving the animal highly susceptible to bacteria and parasites. Furthermore, the detergents can cause extreme damage to the gills, thus making respiration very difficult, if not impossible. Detergent concentrations as low as 5 parts per million will kill fish eggs and concentrations near 15 parts per million, will cause most fish to perish. Other aquatic life falls prey to the lower water surface tension caused by these detergents. When surface tension is low, fish can easily absorb organic chemicals such as pesticides and phenols. A detergent concentration of only 2 parts per million can cause fish to absorb double the amount of chemicals they would normally absorb.
SOLUTION
Minimize all detergent use, particularly those uses
that are not treated before reaching Long Island Sound- like vehicle washing.
Wash your car/truck/boat at a self-serve or commercial car wash. The water
polluted with minerals, oil and detergents is funneled into a drain that is
then either piped to a water pollution control plant for treatment or recycled.
If this is not a possibility for you, then try the following:
• Wash your car in a grassy area or on other pervious or porous surfaces such as gravel so that the water can filter through layers before going into the ground.
• Try using very mild detergent or biodegradable soap, or if the vehicle is not too dirty, try using just water and a sponge (many car fanatics swear by this method).
• Use a bucket of water and dispose of the water in the sink (so that the water will be treated) and/or use a hose with a nozzle that can stop the free flow of water.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT LONG ISLAND
SOUND FROM DETERGENT POLLUTION
Little or No Extra Time or Effort Needed:
• Buy carwash labeled environmentally friendly, biodegradable and low phosphate (while this is better than using regular detergents, these phrases do not mean free of toxins) or even better- make your own!
• If in a crunch, look for detergents with less than 0.5% phosphates
• Use less soap
• Use a bucket of water instead of a running hose and dispose of dirty water in the sink.
• Wash on a grassy or other pervious or porous surface that can provide filtration treatment for small and infrequent discharges
• Conserve water by using a shut off nozzle on your hose
More Time Needed, BUT Bigger Impact:
• Do not directly discharge or allow wash water to be indirectly discharged down any storm drain
• Use a self-serve or other car wash facility, especially when removing salt from your car during the winter. These facilities conserve water, discharge their water into a sanitary sewer or recycle it, and do not drain discharge into storm drains. (It has been estimated that professional car washes average 20 gallons per car compared to home washes which average 150 gallons per car)
• Cover your car. It can reduce the need for frequent washing and waxing as well as protect the finish from fading.
Most Time Needed, BUT Huge Impact:
• Due to the large volume of cars, If your organization is having a carwash fundraiser, use a local self-serve or commercial facility. Some commercial car wash operators may be willing to sponsor your event and make available use of their facilities.
MORE INFO:
1) Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet: Car Washing; http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Pollution_Prevention_Factsheets/CarWashing.htm
2) Understanding Watershed Behavior, Article 126 ; http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Practice/126-Understanding%20Watershed%20Behavior.pdf
3) The Dirty Secret of Washing Your Car at Home; http://www.forester.net/sw_0106_trenches.html
4) Environmental Boating; http://www.cyberus.ca/~longisland/enviroboat.htm
5) Boating Environmental Practices; http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/brochures/purchases.html
6) Planet First: easy and positive ways to help your environment; http://www.geocities.com/planetfirst_au/starts_at_home.html3. International Carwashing Association- http://www.carwashes.com/environ/
