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Posted By Adrian Blundell
Has any one any thoughts on the legality of just pouring the chemicals down the drains? My interest was alerted when it was mentioned that the drains may go to a cesspit. Does this make a difference. It is great, some of the questions you are asked when people find out you have just passed your General Certificate.
Many thanks.
Adrian
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Posted By Jane Blunt
Dear Adrian
The term 'chemicals' is a bit too general. Could you be more specific about identities, quantities, etc?
Regards
Jane
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Posted By Mark Talbot
Adrian,
There are lots of reasons that some things should not be allowed into the water courses. Some of them legal, some of them enviornmental, and some of them safety. As Jane says, it really depends on what you are thinking of though.
Have a look on the Environment Agency's websites for further guidance on the legal and environmental. Your water supplier's website for the allowable and the forbidden.
If going to a cesspit a full assessment must be made and it might be wise to keep an inventory of what is disposed of to allow you to consider the cummulative effects of any cocktails that are brewing.
Your chemistry teachers/masters should be involved of course (just be careful of the "we've done it for year" syndrome).
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Posted By Dennis Bray
We make it usual practice to inform the old water authorities of just what exactly we are discharging and obtain applicable discharge consent certificates from the water authorities.
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Posted By Andy Petrie
small quantities of most of the chemicals used in schools won't be a big problem as they will either be dilluted and/or neutralised in the drain.
Schools tend to be pretty careful about the dangerous ones such as mercury.
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Posted By David Kinnison
Adrian
Really depends what you are trying to dispose of as indicated by Jane. Some schools can have a complete 'hornet's nest' lurking in a cupboard. I would insit on a full inventory of what is to be disposed of and then make an assessment of what can be sucessfully treated.
Drainage into a cess pit (septic tank) is self defeating in terms of 'dilute and dispersal' and certain chemicals (e.g. strong acids and alkalis) can affect the cess pit.
Yours
Dave K.
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Posted By Chris Pope
Cleapps is the organisation who provide brilliant advice on all matters to do with Science and CDT. There was something about this very subject in this term's bulletin from them. I think you will find that nearly every School Science techician in the land has access to their bulletin
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Posted By Frank Hallett
I find it difficult to note that no-one has actually identified that the general principal of disposal of any noxious substance into any drainage system that may not be closed in so far as the substances can escape into the general environment is a big NO-NO in Environmental AND H&S terms.
If the drain[s] concerned actually do lead into a cess-pit; then Marks advice is a very good starting point. However, you must be able to prove that the cess-pit really is unable to discharge, or even leak slightly, into the surrounding ground.
If you find that there is no cess-pit, you quite simply shouldn't be doing it, as has been previously identified, without ensuring that it is legally acceptable by checking the EA web-site and also taking specific advice.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By John Murphy
Adrian
Talk Local Education Authority schools safety adviser as schools have access to a chemicals disposal service. In London it is managed by the Corporation of London but out in the sticks it will probably be one of the County Councils within a region.
There is also an organisation clalled CLEAPPS who provide advice to scheools on disposal and other issues.
I cannot answer for private schools and what they may do.
Regards
John.
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Posted By Adrian Blundell
Many thanks to you all. The situation is now under review by the required people. If I get to know the out come I will post it for your information. Adrian
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Every commercial connection, ie non-domestic, to a main drainage system will have a discharge consent setting out the volume and analysis permitted for the outfall. Check it and see what is permitted. If you are going to a cesspit you are going to have to talk to the Env. Agency quickly and hope they do not prosecute for what has already happened. If it is a tank that is pumped out then you will again need to stop as these will be emptied directly at the sewage works and may impair the treatment beds.
Bob
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