[GSAS-Member] FW: Concern over carpet guy dumping waste water

["Susan Welenofsky" <welenofsky@comcast.net>]

This was a frustrating situation that developed today at my apartment
complex. I was sitting by my computer and 10AM this morning and started
smelling an awful stench. Was it my aquarium? A clogged toilet? No, it was a
carpet cleaner dumping his extremely foul smelling waste water into the
drain that goes to the creek nearby.

 

I asked him what he was doing, and he told me that it was harmless waste
water from a previous spill somewhere. To me, it smelled like a sewer spill
up here on the fourth floor above the parking lot and it actually woke one
of my neighbors up on the fifth floor. I contacted Adopt-A-Stream next door
and here is what the executive director had to say. The carpet cleaner guy
told me "he does it all the time" and that I "was ignorant", the main
apartment maintenance guy said he was sick of me, and the head manager here
didn't seem to care much, so I haven't been having such a great day. It
seems like the Health Department who just called and Adopt-A-Stream want to
do some friendly education.

 

I wouldn't worry about taking out water weeds anywhere and some places want
people to get a fishing license to collect native fish. The kids go nuts
over the tadpoles which usually end up dying or thrown out and the parks
department is concerned about educating people more than anything because
they know they can't stop collecting. If a parks person DID actually object
to someone taking a water plant or animal, I am sure the most they would do
is ask the person to put it back. I would think that if someone were trying
establish any type of native aquatic wildlife on their property it wouldn't
be a problem. I think universities may get collecting permits for some
things, but I wouldn't worry about it for personal collection. It's always
good to ask first of course before doing anything questionable. I'm sure Tom
Murdoch from Adopt-A-Stream would be happy to answer any questions about
that.

 

Incidentally, I don't have any experience setting up chillers and they are
looking to fire up a 55-gallon Plexiglass for an indoor freshwater exhibit.
I can donate an overflow to the cause plus time and other materials. It
would be ideal to have a sump made for this tank, no wider than 12". The
sump I gave to Steev this past June hooked up to the overflow, but it was
all siliconed together instead of being properly made.

 

Susan

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Murdoch [mailto:tomm@streamkeeper.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 1:48 PM
To: Lori Powlas; Ginger Holser; welenofsky@comcast.net
Cc: Ralph Surjeck; Ginger Holser
Subject: Re: Concern over carpet guy dumping waste water

 

Susan,

The action you describe is likely in violation Water Pollution regulations
administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology (I am forwarding
this message to a WDOE rep).  The "flood water" from carpets may be loaded
with fecal coliform bacteria as well as a variety of chemicals used in the
clean-up effort.

Sitka Creek has a healthy resident population of cuttroat trout and a
complex community of benthic macroinvertebrates. All will be negatively
affected by this action.   Therefore, this action is likely  in violation of
the State Hydraulics Code administered by the WA Department of Fish and
Widlife...I am forwarding this message to a WDFW rep as well.  

If the carpet cleaner is working for the apartment complex, the apartment
owners will likely be liable for the actions of the carpet cleaner.  That
liability may include fines and other actions deemed appropriate by the
State.  Indeed, the managers of Heatherwood Apartments should be aware of
the actions of their contractors and know that ignorance of the rules
governing water pollution and fish habitat degradation does not excuse them
from liability.

The apartment managers should consult with the Alderwood Sewer District  and
the County's Hazardous Waste division regarding proper disposal of this type
of material.  

Also, I would be happy to provide the apartment complex with a "Dump No
Waste: Drains To Stream" storm drain stencil to mark on all storm drains at
the complex.  In addition, I would be happy to discuss other measures that
the management can take to prevent other water pollution/fish/wildlife
habitat degradation problems in the future.

Tom


Tom Murdoch, Director
Adopt-A-Stream Foundation
425-316-8592
tomm@streamkeeper.org 




On 7/23/08 10:28 AM, "Lori Powlas" <aasf@streamkeeper.org> wrote:



------ Forwarded Message
From: Susan Welenofsky <welenofsky@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:15:30 -0700
To: Charito Domingo <hwmanager@hnnapts.com>, AASF <aasf@streamkeeper.org>
Subject: Concern over carpet guy dumping waste water

Good Morning Charito:
 
The carpet guy dumped some extremely smelly water into the handicapped grate
which goes to Sitka Creek. He said it was just waste water from a flood, but
it smells more like sewage to me. He's cleaning E-501 right now. I am
forwarding this email to Adopt-A-Stream next door. I think you should talk
to him about doing that an approved site.
 
Susan


------ End of Forwarded Message

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