RE: [alfa] Re: coolant disposal

["Dean Mericas" <dmericas@xxxxxxxxx>]

Absolutely.  The distinction is between sanitary sewer, which handles
wastewater and goes to the treatment plant, and storm sewer that handles
rainfall runoff flows to some sort of surface water.
 
I did not in any way mean to suggest pouring antifreeze down a street drain.
I believe that's both illegal in some places, and stupid everywhere.
 
Dean
 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: TJ [mailto:tj@domain.elided] 
	Sent: Sat 11/1/2003 4:46 PM 
	To: Dean Mericas; alfa@domain.elided 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: [alfa] Re: coolant disposal
	
	

	I assume this precludes situations where storm drains flow directly
to
	freshwater bays, rivers or streams as we have here in the Bay Area. 
	Many of these drains are so marked and indicate not to dispose of
	automotive chemicals in them.
	
	TJ
	
	> My work involves dealing with the environmental impacts of
ethylene
	and
	> propylene glycols in the fluids used to deice aircraft.  Both
	ethylene and
	> propylene glycol are basically liquid sugars, and they readily
	biodegrade.
	> The additives are typically the major issue in the impacts of
	deicers, and
	> I'm sure they are an issue with coolants, but they generally are
	degraded as
	> well in the biological treatment process.  The standard method for
	disposal
	> of spend fluids is discharge to a sanitary sewer.  The advice to
	pour spent
	> coolant down the drain is sound.
	>
	> Dean Mericas
	> Ann Arbor, MI
	> 1974 2000 GTV
	>
	> >Some chemist or biologist please correct me if I am wrong, but
	> >I was under
	> >the impression that coolant will decompose in nature.  There are
	enough
	> >natural flora out there to take care of small quantities over
time.
	> >The real danger is of poisoning any animals happening by who lap
it
	up,
	> >because it tastes sweet.  The toxic byproduct of digestion is
	> >oxalic acid,
	> >but this can be avoided by...wait for it... drinking booze!  I
	> >actually saw
	> >this recommendation on an MSDS:  medical care will be delayed
	> >several hours,
	> >give the patient three to four 1-ounce oral "shots" of
	> >86-proof or higher
	> >whiskey before or during transport to the hospitalmedical care
will
	be
	> >delayed several hours, give the patient three to four 1-ounce
oral
	> >"shotsmedical care will be delayed several hours, give the
	> >patient three to
	> >four 1-ounce oral "shotsmedical care will be delayed several
	> >hours, give the
	> >patient three to four 1-ounce oral "shotsmedical care will be
	delayed
	> >several hours, give the patient three to four 1-ounce oral
	> >"shotsmedical
	> >care will be delayed several hours, give the patient three to
	> >four 1-ounce
	> >oral "shotsmedical care will be delayed several hours, give the
	patient
	> >three to four 1-ounce oral "shots"If medical care will be
	> >delayed several
	> >hours, give the patient three to four 1-ounce oral
	> >
	> >"shots" of 86-proof or higher whiskey before or during transport
to
	the
	> >hospital."
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