What Is a Concrete Washout and Why Do You Need One?

Your job site could be releasing toxic metals into the environment.

That's just one of the harmful contaminants in concrete washout water, that also happens to be caustic and corrosive. That's why it's required by law to contain concrete washout.

It is important as a contractor to keep the environment and your workspace safe. To do this, make sure you have a concrete washout plan that will protect the environment from the negative impact of this wastewater.

Keep reading to learn more about concrete washouts, how they work, and how to create a plan for your next job site.

What Is a Concrete Washout?

A concrete washout is a temporary containment system used to capture and collect the contaminated water and slurry from washing out concrete trucks, pumps, and chutes after completing a pour. It's important to wash the trucks and equipment used to handle concrete in a timely manner before the concrete hardens. Therefore, many job sites will do this right on location.

Concrete washouts aren't limited to just concrete pours. Containers for concrete washouts are required for cement, concrete, and stucco projects. The wastewater from all of these projects is regarded as highly contaminant and damaging to the environment.

The wastewater should be collected in concrete washout bins to prevent harm to the land and our drinking water resources.

The washout water is also caustic and corrosive, which can damage drains and sewer systems if not properly contained. That's why it's important to have a plan in place to contain the washout water. Concrete washouts are required by law in many jurisdictions, as they are an important tool for protecting the environment from the pollution caused by construction activities.

How Does a Concrete Washout Work?

Concrete washouts are usually made on-site using temporary containment systems. These systems can be as simple as buckets placed to collect the washout water. More sophisticated concrete washouts may use prefabricated metal or plastic bins.

The important thing is that you design a system to capture and contain the contaminated water and slurry when washing out concrete trucks, pumps, and chutes. Once the system is in place, the job site can proceed with washing out the trucks and equipment.

After the concrete has been washed out, the contaminated water and slurry will be collected in the containment system for recycling or treatment.

Why Do You Need a Concrete Washout?

There are several reasons why you need a concrete washout.

• Protect the environment: because of the presence of calcium hydroxide, concrete washout water is highly alkaline. This hydroxide is a caustic solution that has a pH of 11.6 to 13.6. Even small amounts of alkaline water can be dangerous if the pH level is this high.
• Prevent flooding: the concrete slurry in the wastewater can eventually block drains leading to flooding.
• Comply with the law: it is illegal to allow untreated water to go into the sewers or pour it away in many places. Anything that goes into the sewers needs to have a pH of 10 or less. The maximum pH for wastewater that is released into waterways is 9. In order to discharge the wash water into the drains, a contractor must first get approval from the local authorities.
• Keep your job site safe: concrete washout bins prevent concrete pools from forming around the job site. This keeps your property clean and safe during construction.
• Save money: a concrete washout plan can save you money by preventing damage to your equipment and avoiding fines for environmental violations and non-EPA compliance.

Creating a Concrete Washout Plan

Now that you know why concrete washouts are important, you need to create a plan for your next job site. Here are some tips for creating a concrete washout plan.

Talk to your local authorities. Before you start your project, talk to your local authorities to find out what regulations apply to concrete washouts in your jurisdiction.

Choose the right location. When choosing a location for your concrete washout, make sure it is far enough away from storm drains, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water so that the contaminated water will not pollute them.

Build a containment system. Once you have chosen a location, you need to build a containment system to hold the washout water. The concrete washout system should be made of impermeable materials.

Collect the water. After each concrete pour, collect the washout water in the containment system. Make sure to empty the system regularly according to your local guidelines so that the contaminated water does not accumulate and pollute the environment.

Dispose of the water properly. Once you have collected the washout water, you need to dispose of it properly. The best way to do this is to send it to a treatment facility where it can be treated and released back into the environment safely or use a concrete washout service.

Concrete Washout Services

Concrete washouts can be labor-intensive. It's important that everything is up to code to comply with your local regulations.

Consider using a concrete washout rental or hiring professionals to provide you with convenient concrete washout solutions. Using a concrete washout service can save you time and money, as well as ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Not only do they contain the concrete washout, but they can provide additional services. These services include treatment of the waste, recycling of the water back into your building processes to save you money and time, and transporting the waste to treatment facilities if needed.

If you are looking for a professional concrete washout provider, consider using Payless Rolloff. We offer a variety of solutions to fit your needs, including roll-off containers, dumpsters, and more.

For more information about our services or to get started, contact us today.