Environmental whackjobs and vicious dogs capped a great car wash

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I either pour my ONR wash mixture onto the lawn or some such depending on what is there or I put it down the sanitary sewer. I would never allow it to run off or go down a storm drain.
 
I don't have a problem with environmentalists, or any other weird group of people, I just don't like it when they try to get everyone else to accept their views, such as this guy trying to prevent you from doing your job.
 
Just got thinking about this again:



Environmentalist or not, as a professional detailer you have a responsibility to respect the space you're working in. You represent yourself, but also other detailers in a way. It reminds me of when I tell people I ride a motorcycle -and when I tell them sportbike -certain people immediately assume I'm a clown that does wheelies on the interstate expressway.



-Not that I am siding with the over the top Eco-Nazi



It is the same for him too- by being a a tree-hugging-Hitler, he is creating an image of every environmentalist being a hysterical loony. -Additionally people like this rather than turn people on to conservation usually make people go the opposite. -Sort of like the Catholic school girl that grows up to be a stripper, but I digress...
 
What sounds weird to me is that someone would want their car detailed with all those chemicals if they are so worried about the environment. They wouldn't dump soapy water down the sewer but can't stand the thought of some swirls on their car so multiple chemicals are used to remove those? :think:
 
dan46n2 said:
What sounds weird to me is that someone would want their car detailed with all those chemicals if they are so worried about the environment. They wouldn't dump soapy water down the sewer but can't stand the thought of some swirls on their car so multiple chemicals are used to remove those? :think:



read it again ...it was his neighbor
 
Dsoto87 said:
I mean really, what are you trying to prove?



The scientific explanation for this behavior is "Small penis syndrome."



-----

More seriously, people dumping crap into storm drains can be a major source of water polution.



Storm drain systems assume that people will not be pouring crap into them, and are designed to deal with very high flow rates, therefore they have only a limited ability to filter out solids and oils from the water stream.



Car washes are an excellent source of oily water, grit/sand, "mineral FOG" (aka soap scum, various greasy/waxy substances not of animal/vegetable origin), emulsifying substances and phosphates.



Alot of these wastes are tricky for sewage plants to handle, for example emulsified oil will not get caught in an oil/water separator. Later on when the emulsion breaks (e.g due to bacteria chewing on the emulsifier, or just time etc) the oil will be released.



Alternately people pouring lots of soapy water into a sewage system can result in the further emulsification of fats and oils, and later issues with excessive foaming.



Many of the greasy substances found in car wash waste water are not very biodegradable to begin with, leading to the potential for serious oily fouling.
 
GoudyL said:
The scientific explanation for this behavior is "Small penis syndrome."



I wrote a nasty reply earlier, and I take it back. but why do you have to say **** like that? Edit your post and apologize.
 
Like citizen arcane brought up. The nickel batteries in the prius and the other producion factors truely make it about as eco friendly as my suburban in the grand scheme of things. That would shut him up.



The environmental debate is much more complex than most people realize. We should try to benefit the globe whenever possible, but extremists like this fellow who have no clue what they are talking about ruin it for everybody.
 
MBenz said:
Like citizen arcane brought up. The nickel batteries in the prius and the other producion factors truely make it about as eco friendly as my suburban in the grand scheme of things. That would shut him up.



The environmental debate is much more complex than most people realize. We should try to benefit the globe whenever possible, but extremists like this fellow who have no clue what they are talking about ruin it for everybody.



My beef with this whole movement is that most people equate "environmentally friendly" to basically fuel economy and Prius owners seem to be the worst with this ideology. If you buy a Prius, or any hybrid/alternative fuel technology-based car, just be honest and say that you bought to save money at the pump. Don't say you bought it to save the environment. The environment will function just fine with/without us. Whether or not we can function/survive in said environment is a different story.



Side note: I remember a while ago reading about/seeing that the catalytic converters in some Porsches, and I think some Saabs as well, were so efficient that the air leaving the exhaust was actually cleaner than the air entering it....



That's environmentally friendly to me...
 
Tris1 said:
My beef with this whole movement is that most people equate "environmentally friendly" to basically fuel economy and Prius owners seem to be the worst with this ideology. If you buy a Prius, or any hybrid/alternative fuel technology-based car, just be honest and say that you bought to save money at the pump. Don't say you bought it to save the environment. The environment will function just fine with/without us. Whether or not we can function/survive in said environment is a different story.



Side note: I remember a while ago reading about/seeing that the catalytic converters in some Porsches, and I think some Saabs as well, were so efficient that the air leaving the exhaust was actually cleaner than the air entering it....



That's environmentally friendly to me...



:hifive: WIN!!!!
 
BigJimZ28 said:
read it again ...it was his neighbor



Well his client's neighbor sounds like a douche! I would have done more than just pour the water out in front of him thats for sure, people need to mind their own business.
 
GoudyL said:
The scientific explanation for this behavior is "Small penis syndrome."



-----

More seriously, people dumping crap into storm drains can be a major source of water polution.



Storm drain systems assume that people will not be pouring crap into them, and are designed to deal with very high flow rates, therefore they have only a limited ability to filter out solids and oils from the water stream.



Car washes are an excellent source of oily water, grit/sand, "mineral FOG" (aka soap scum, various greasy/waxy substances not of animal/vegetable origin), emulsifying substances and phosphates.



Alot of these wastes are tricky for sewage plants to handle, for example emulsified oil will not get caught in an oil/water separator. Later on when the emulsion breaks (e.g due to bacteria chewing on the emulsifier, or just time etc) the oil will be released.



Alternately people pouring lots of soapy water into a sewage system can result in the further emulsification of fats and oils, and later issues with excessive foaming.



Many of the greasy substances found in car wash waste water are not very biodegradable to begin with, leading to the potential for serious oily fouling.



Any time you wash your car outside that soap will end up in the storm drain, it's inevitable, this guy pouring the water down the drain does what everyone else does every weekend when they wash their car. If the drain system can not handle mild soap there is something wrong with that picture.
 
HydroMan said:
I wrote a nasty reply earlier, and I take it back. but why do you have to say **** like that? Edit your post and apologize.



Because your post described you acting in childish, peevish and passive/aggressive manner. It's like someone who intentionally craps their pants at a wedding, and then wonders why no one else thinks its funny.



You weren't getting back at anyone by pouring wastewater down a storm drain, you were just being a ****.



Posting about it on an internet forum, and hoping to receive affirmation is a sign of your own insecurity about the appropriateness your behavior.
 
dan46n2 said:
Any time you wash your car outside that soap will end up in the storm drain, it's inevitable



No its not. You can dump your waste water on the ground or you can dump it down a sanitary sewer (e.g pour it into a toilet).



He made an explict choice to dump commercial wastewater into a storm drain which is untreated rather than a sanitary drain which is treated.



If you aren't comfortable pouring your wastewater on the ground, then why are you dumping it into a storm drain? Out of sight, out of mind?



this guy pouring the water down the drain does what everyone else does every weekend when they wash their car. If the drain system can not handle mild soap there is something wrong with that picture.



Car wash soaps and related surfactants are hardly mild.



The issue isn't the mild soap per se (although that's an issue too) its all the crap carried along with the "mild" soap as well as the interactions of that "mild" soap with other components in the waste water.



Car wash effluent can be very "strong" and isn't the sort of thing that should be dumped into storm sewers.
 
I think we can find fault in the behavior of both parties. While I would tend to side with HydroMan on rubbing it in the face of the smug enviro, as someone else already said, two wrongs don't make a right.



That said, my typical response to someone like the neighbor would be to ask them why they have a car and don't ride a bike instead. If he really cared about the environment, he would live off the grid. The point being that they have made their decision based on how far they're willing to inconvenience themselves in the name of saving the environment. They don't get to make that decision for me.



A Prius is great if you're just interested in lowering your fuel costs, not so great if it's to show you care about the environment. A much better move would be to buy a car that's already on the road and converting it to some alternative fuel. That would get much more respect from me. Or just start riding your bike.



I don't automatically assume that all Prius owners are worried about the environment either. My neighbor bought one because he got a tax break and better gas mileage. He could care less about the environment.
 
To Gaudy

Geez it was like a story that I wanted to share. Why are you getting your panties in a bunch? This stuff never happened to me before and its a pretty weird thing that happened. Sort of like sharing a story by the water cooler at work kind of thing.



Go hug a tree or something. You actually made yourself look immature by posting. Oh and go look up the word passive aggressive. I'm surprised you actually were able to type out a word that may have been too hard for your brain to handle.
 
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