Concrete Waste Dumping by Homeowners
Is it Okay to dump excess concrete waste into my drain?
Think again if you believe being a homeowner gives you the right to dump your concrete waste. Homeowners must adhere to the same environmental laws that construction businesses must observe: dispose of concrete waste or face a fine. Illegally disposing of concrete waste can be a costly problem.
Why is Concrete Waste a Problem for the Environment?
Dumping concrete wastewater into your yard or storm drain poses significant environmental and health risks. And it's not just concrete chucks. Concrete waste includes the wastewater runoff from washing your equipment and shovels.
Concrete wastewater is often laden with high pH levels, suspended solids, and various chemical contaminants, heavy metals, and additives. These can be toxic to wildlife and may even contaminate drinking water sources, like your own well, if you live in the country. The high alkalinity and toxic substances threaten aquatic life, disrupt natural habitats, and contaminate water sources.
Yes, Concrete Slurry Kills YOUR Lawns
As a homeowner, washing concrete waste from your shovels and wheelbarrows onto your yard could kill that portion of your yard for some time. Grass needs ground with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. The chemicals in concrete will change that to a pH of nearly 13.0. Grass cannot grow in the ground that acidic. Depending on the amount of rain and other factors, that pH level could make that portion of your yard a dead zone for months or even a year.
The following is an example of what grass can look like after concrete slurry is spilled onto the ground.
Can a Homeowner Get in Trouble for Concrete Spills?
If you can't pour concrete waste into your yard, can you pour it down a storm drain? Besides the environmental problems of pouring excess wastewater from a concrete project into the storm drain (potentially triggering hefty environmental fines), the wastewater may not be just water. It may also have concrete in it.
Many homeowners don't realize concrete can cure under water (see link). Even a small amount of concrete left in the slurry can settle into pipes and eventually become a rock-hard block. Because it's easy to trace that concrete to its source, the culprit may face the costs of repairing that section of pipe. Such repairs could reach $10,000 and come with city fines.
Homeowners should also consider other substances that act like concrete when doing DIY projects. Tile grout, for instance, can set underwater and in drains, eventually blocking your drain pipes or even reaching the city and affecting their pipes.
The only way to fix a blocked pipe is to replace it. This is very expensive and never worth the convenience of disposing of concrete wastewater down a drain.
How to Dispose of Concrete Wastewater
The easiest way to dispose of concrete wastewater is to solidify it and either recycle or legally dispose of it.
Using an Outpak Concrete Washout, you can collect the wastewater and set it in the sun to evaporate. Once dried, you will have a solid mixture to collect and dispose of quickly. You can reuse the washout for years, ensuring your investment in a clean environment is spread across many future projects. Contact your local trash service for recycling options.
Recycling Concrete Makes Sense
Recycling concrete waste and slurry is smart. Concrete slurry is a versatile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly material crucial for various construction and maintenance applications. Its ability to improve surface preparation, fill voids, suppress dust, and enhance the overall performance of concrete structures makes it an essential asset in the industry. Most neighborhoods have a recycling program for this material.
Turn Your Concrete Slurry into a Solid
You can also use Outpak's Slurry Solution to turn wastewater into a solid quickly. Your slurry will solidify into a wet sand consistency and be ready to dispose of in any standard waste container. You can purchase a two-pound bag, perfect for most DIY projects. It saves time, money, and your home's environment!