Forum Topic

hand car washes in Brentford discharging trade effluent into Thames?

Does anyone now how we could find out if the hand car washes that have appeared over Brentford, in particular in pub car parks, are discharging trade effluent correctly into a foul sewer or illegally into a surface water sewer that will end up un-treated into the Thames.Washing on a porous surface such as tarmac would lead to pollution of ground water. It is an offence under the Water Resources Act (1991) to knowingly cause or permit discharge of trade effluent into surface or ground water without the prior consent of the Environment Regulator.

Jim Pooley ● 6125d3 Comments

If you suspect that pollutants are being dischared into the Thames I suggest you report the matter to the Environment Agency:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/contactus/default.aspxJL

Jim Linwood ● 6125d

I agree it's not ideal, but I think it's taking things a tad far to suggest that there's a substantial amount of oils and metals washed off cars when washing them.What 'amuses' me is that these car washes (which are inevitably completely unauthorised) are usually on vacant brownfield sites that would be ideal for housing, but the same people who object to the car wash businesses are almost always the same people who object to any other development on the site...nimbyism at its best.

Adam Beamish ● 6125d

I would imagine homes discharge into foul sewers and would therefore be treated. Oil and metals will be washed off the cars and if this is discharged to a surface water sewer it will end up in the Thames.

Jim Pooley ● 6125d

Trade effluent has had to be bio degradable and EU approved for the last 8 years, it's less harmfull than much of the stuff used in homes.

Michael Brandt ● 6125d