Oil Spill Blog

Concrete Oil Spill Cleanup Made Easy!

With the increasing oil spill tragedies in the sea, there is so much talk about oil spills these days. Yet, most of us fail to notice the oil spills that occur at our homes every day. Do you often wonder why your driveway is turning grayish day by day? The reason might be pretty much evident. Check if your car is spilling too much oil.

Anyway, you car might not be the only source for concrete oil spills at your outdoors. Vehicles of your visitors or passer-by trucks can also spew oil in front of your gateway. These are situations you have no control over. However, you cannot sit idle after knowing that there’s a spill. So, here are some tips for you to cleanup those unsightly concrete oil spills.

It’s best to avoid wire scrubs to cleanup spilt oil from your concrete driveway. Besides leaving a lot of oil intact, these scrubs damage the concrete surface too. In addition, ground water safety is also at stake. If you want to safeguard your ground water, then do not, at any cost, seal the oil spilt area with fresh cement. This method causes a certain amount of oil seepage into the ground, and in the long run has a toll on the water table.

Do you use chemical oil dispersants to cleanup oil spills on your concrete driveway? Then, we suggest you better stop doing it. Chemicals especially muriatic acid and silane siloxane that are used in these cleaners erode the concrete surface leaving a permanent scar. Sometimes, people use kerosene to remove oil spills. Besides being very tricky to handle, kerosene also raises environmental concerns.

So, the best alternative to all these techniques is to go green. By doing this, you’ll not only be saving yourself, but the environment too. Try Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200, an eco-friendly oil spill cleaner, to cleanup oil spills. This green oil spill cleaner uses oil eating bacteria to clean up the spill. It can be used on concrete, asphalt, granite, and many other surfaces without compromising on environmental and personal safety.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Impact of Highway Oil Spills on Traffic!

Highway accidents due to oil spills are not uncommon. However, highway traffic hold ups due to oil spills is one thing we could have experienced, but not given a second thought. There need not necessarily be an accident to hold up the traffic, just a spill is enough.

Recently, a semi truck roll over was reported on Kings Highway, just north of Rampart Blvd overpass. Not only was the truck’s driver injured in the accident, even the traffic came to a standstill. It was reported that large oil drums in the truck spilled as many as 1000 gallons of oil into the dirt.

A similar, but more serious incident was reported on I-95 in Stratford, where a trailer tractor spilled 25 gallons of gasoline near Exit 34. Even though no accidents or injuries were reported, the oil spill delayed traffic on the right and middle lanes of the highway for more than an hour. Even the entire northbound traffic was also held up for about five minutes. The area was reopened for use only after a sand truck scattered sand all over the place. A fireman who was at the scene, termed the surface as dangerous and slippery.

In San Leandro, two lanes on the transition ramp from southbound Interstate Highway 880 to southbound Interstate Highway 238 were closed down due to a big-rig accident. Consequently, the oil tank was punctured leading to an oil spill in that area. No injuries were reported. The lanes remained closed as the clean-up crews removed the truck and started the clean-up operations. Just as in the case of above incidents, there was a heavy delay in traffic.

So, isn’t it pretty evident from the above cases, that whenever there are accidents involving oil spills, there should be an effective remedy to clear out the oil spill? Instead of using chemical cleaners or sand, it’s always a safer and effective option to use green spill cleaners like Oil Gone Easy S-200.

ImageCredit:http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNLkGWCF5jKWzc_BxjMaiQE1QnpPjmirECOEj8qVxytcIKGxh3tw

Popularity: 4% [?]

Cleanup Costs associated with Port Oil Spill Cleanup

Port oil spills create a huge havoc and affect the surrounding environment heavily. The cleanup of in-port oil spill incidents is not an easy task. There are many facets to an oil spill cleanup employed. Several factors, such as type of oil spilled, location of the spill, weather conditions, and the reach of the spill in sensitive areas determine the cleanup costs in ports.

The cleanup cost incurred is really high, especially when manual recovery is involved. The cleanup operations sometimes tend to render more environmental damage when compared to the situation where the oil would have been left to degrade at a natural rate. However, that cannot be the case all the time as public demands and aesthetic considerations require some action to be taken for cleanup.

Manual containment can be the most damaging of all the oil spill cleanup exercises. In cases, especially where oil reaches the shore, the situation worsens since the use of heavy equipment and human resources can cause the oil to seep further into the sand and pebbles. Also, there is a possibility of damage to the physical integrity of the beach and the sensitive shoreline flora and fauna.

The type of oil spilled also plays a major role in determining the cleanup cost. Usually oil with lighter density is easy to cleanup than heavy oils as it easily evaporates. However, emulsified lighter oils are usually viscous, resulting in amplified cost related to oil spill cleanup.

In most cases, use of a dispersant is enough to mitigate the problem and it is easy to use as well. But, dispersants tend to linger in the deep water causing after effects to marine life at an immeasurable rate. So, it’s always better to use bio-degradable oil spill cleaners like Oil Gone Easy S-200. No after effects, easy to use, reduced cleanup cost, and most important of all – it’s harmless on Mother Nature. There more, this product is available in convenient 5-gallon pails. Places like Port of Pensacola have tried this product, you should too!


Image credit: http://oilspilllawsuit.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/138.jpg

Popularity: 2% [?]

Dealing with Port and Harbor Stormwater Runoff!

Have you ever given a second thought to how disastrous stormwater runoff pollution can prove to be? If no, then you are also one among thousand others who do not take this issue seriously. Any activity in ports and harbors causing an eco hazard reflects badly on the ocean. For instance, when oil leaks out of large tanker vessels while loading or unloading, then there is every chance for the leaked oil to get into the ocean waters. The flora and fauna of the sea are most badly affected, not to mention the degradation of the water quality. Such ruining impacts on water quality and aquatic beings, damage the marine ecosystem as a whole.

You might think that the probability of port oil spills contaminating the sea is rather too low. It might be considered true to a certain extent, but what if there is a storm? Stormwater runoff carries all those toxic and oily wastes from ports and harbors and leads them directly into the sea.

Though we might not win if we fight against the force of nature, we certainly can prevent chemicals and oil from mixing with the runoff. Only ‘Best Management Practices’ to the ‘Maximum Extent Practicable’ at ports and harbors will help us deal with it!

Finding a solution to a problem is impossible without properly understanding the source of the problem. In this case, the source is nothing but pollutants in ports and harbors, and from where they surface. The pollutants here are antifoulants, oil spills, heavy metals, organics, and cleaning chemicals, and they come out from routine seaport activities like loading, unloading, and boat hull cleaning. Modifying these activities is way above practicality, so finding remedies to nullify these chemical pollutants will be a viable option. Having environmentally-friendly spill cleaners handy is always a safe choice.

Oil Gone Easy S-200, an eco-friendly oil and grease cleaner, is a great example. It enhances the growth of oil eating bacteria to degrade oil. By using this product in ports and harbors, we can rule out pollution issues dealing with oily and greasy wastes.

If essential steps are taken to use this green product in ports and harbors, then there is going to be a sharp decrease in oil spill contamination. However, when we talk about stormwater runoff pollution, stringent BMPs and regulatory practices are also obligatory.

Popularity: 2% [?]

With so many recreational vessels in our waterways, oil spills and boat pump outs are a major cause of concern. Though we may not give a lot of importance to the minor spills, the fact remains that they are the most common reasons for polluting waterways. So, it is very essential to have a basic knowledge on how to deal with the situation ourselves. However, if you realize that you have accidently spilled oil its always better to call up the nearest oil spill hotline department for immediate action! In the meanwhile you can act on the situation by using eco-friendly oil spill cleaner – Oil Gone Easy S-200 5 gallon pails that will clean effectively without further harming the environment.

There is a very strong reason why the use of an eco-friendly oil spill cleaner is recommended. An ordinary oil remover is not enough to deal with such hazardous situations. They contain soaps that rupture the oil into droplets or directly sink them below water. This type of oil spill cleanup tends to aggravate the situation rather than minimizing the effects.

Correct choice of an oil stain remover is essential to ensure that neither the oil nor the remover affects Mother Nature adversely. Oil Gone Easy S-200 5 gallon pails are high volume bio-degradable oily bilge solution perfect for effective oil spill cleanup.

Although there are ample oil removers available to take care of such situations, it is always better to take steps to prevent hazardous oily bilge solution from reaching the waters. After all, it is always better to be safe than sorry! Read on to find out a few ways in which you can ensure that your recreational vessels avoid polluting waterways:

1. Recycle your boat oil as well as oil filters.
2. Get the oily bilge cleaned regularly to ensure that tainted water is not pumped overboard.
   
3. Spill proof your recreational vessels by using a closed system such as a portable vacuum oil change pump.
   
4. Take extreme care when changing oil in your boat.

Even with all these measures, there is always the odd chance of an oil spill or pump out spillage. So, keep the eco-friendly Oil Gone Easy S-200 5 gallon pails handy.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Oil spills – well, they are one of the biggest environment issues on the rise! Not just in oceans or on highways, they are a common scenario even at home. Most of us are aware of the ill effects of an oil spill and resort to some kind of remedial measures. But the question is, “Is your oil stain remover safe on Mother Nature?”

Most of you might take pride in reacting to a spill immediately. However, to curb the problem, only using eco-friendly cleaning products works! Here are a few green cleaning ideas that might help you do your part to save Mother Nature!

• Oil absorbent pads or tubes made from nylon stockings, hair, fleece, and fur are a great alternative to chemical oil dispersants.

• You may also resort to other green cleaning products, such as hair mats created using hair and mushrooms to clear the spill. The oil is absorbed by the hair and the oily hair is then eaten by the mushrooms.

• Worms are also a good idea to clean up oil spill. Worms break down the spilt oil to give out fertilizer products.

• Another reliable alternative is the oil eating bacteria. Well, the ocean has plenty of them! All you have to do is add some fertilizer products so that the oil is absorbed at a faster rate.

• The best of all these alternatives is the use of eco-friendly oil spill cleaner – Oil Gone Easy S-200. Be it a smaller spill or a relatively larger one, Oil Gone Easy S-200 is one product that can be completely relied upon for effective oil spill cleanup. This environmentally friendly cleaning product works using bioremediation technology to remove oil stains.

Give a thought to these eco-friendly alternatives and pave way for a better, greener world!

Popularity: 3% [?]

People associated with commercial facilities, such as garages, marinas, refineries, or construction sites will definitely accept the fact that cleaning up the facilities of the dirt, grime, and oil accumulated can be very daunting. Hence, most of them tend to make use of strong chemical cleaning agents to maintain the commercial spaces.

But very few realize the ill-effects associated with such abrasive cleaning products. Not only are these harsh commercial cleaning products cleaning agents extremely harmful to the environment, but they pose significant health risks, such as eye, skin and respiratory irritation and may also cause allergic reactions as well.

The impact of these harsh commercial cleaning products on the cleaning personnel is also greater. Since they are exposed to toxic chemicals for a longer time, they are more prone to serious chronic illnesses, including cancer, neurological, or even reproductive disorders.

One solution that ensures effective cleaning without any side-effects is the use of green cleaning products. In the attempt to “Go Green,” most industries just think of practices, such as recycling or minimizing the use of electricity. The idea of using green cleaners over toxic commercial cleaning products strikes only a few. This small change of practice will in fact make a large difference.

For instance, for cleaning up oil spills in a refinery, a gas station, or a rail yard where the contamination from oil spills is large, it would be a great idea to incorporate an effective eco-friendly oil spill cleaner, such Oil Gone Easy S-200. This product works using the EPA certified bioremediation technology, which breaks down the oil and converts it into water and carbon dioxide. Hence it is perfectly safe on the environment and humans as well.

Hence, commercial cleaning could be achieved even better with the use of green cleaning products.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The very sight of dust, dirt and grease in your garage makes cleaning very hard to ignore. If left uncleaned for a long time, your garage can turn into a very unsightly area. The grease can also make your garage floor slippery and put you under the risk of losing your footing. Here are a few tips for removing oil stains and to keep your garage floor sparkling clean.

Before you could start cleaning your garage floor, remove all cars and bikes and leave your garage empty so that you could reach all possible areas that require cleaning. The first step to cleaning is sweeping the floor and ensuring that it is free from dirt and debris. It is better to use a wide, stiff broom, which will make your initial task effortless.

Of all the aspects of garage cleaning, the most daunting task is to remove oil from driveway. With the use of Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200, removing tough oil stains from your garage becomes easy.

Removal of long accumulated oil stains and spills from your garage can be challenging. To ease up your cleaning process, Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200 is the right choice. This environmentally-friendly cleaning product will not only help you to remove oil from driveway, but also will not have any adverse effect to the environment.

The Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200 is a bioremediation accelerator and agglomerator that bonds with oil and breaks it down to water and carbon dioxide. This eco-friendly product is found to be effective in removing driveway oil stains, which is the reason why it is being used by Little Rock Arkansas Fire Department and Kentucky Highway Department.

After removing oil stains spray water with a hose or mop the floor thoroughly to make your garage a better place to park your cars and bikes.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The National Response Center (NRC) is a national communication center of the federal government, which acts as a point of contact for reporting oil spills and chemical releases into navigable waters. The National Response System operates through a network established in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

The National Response Center functions through three high level organizations and four special force components.

First is the Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSC), an official assigned by the EPA if it occurs in inland areas and by the Coast Guard if in coastal or navigable waters. He coordinates all federal containment and oil spill clean up efforts when an incident is reported.

Next is the National Response Team (NRT) that is made up of 16 federal agencies with expertise in emergency response to oil spills and chemical releases. A planning, and coordinating body, it provides policy guidance for oil spill prevention and supporting FOSC with oil spill cleanup.

The third is the Regional Response Team (RRT) set up for different federal regions. They are also planning and coordinating bodies and help FOSC by means of Regional Contingency Plans. They also assist the state and the local governments in training for emergency responses to oil spills.

The four special force components mainly focus on the response to major oil spills. They are manned by highly trained scientists and engineers working in areas of hazard assessment, oil spill cleanup techniques, environmental chemistry, and oil slick tracking.

The National Response Center invites the public to submit reports on incidents of oil spills for them to act efficiently on the oil spill cleanup and also to develop strategies for oil spill prevention there after. They have an online reporting tool created for the purpose. A reply will be sent to the reporting party within 24 hours.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Green cleaning is a term that refers to cleaning techniques and products that make use of eco-friendly materials and substances rather than toxic ingredients. Certain products emit volatile organic compounds, which can cause irreparable damage, respiratory problems, and skin infections. Green cleaning techniques are a much safer and healthier way to treat water, purify air, and clean a home or land.

Sunrays are natural disinfectants. Ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun can be used to disinfect water and air. UV radiation is commonly used in waste water treatment and is increasingly being used in drinking water treatment. In fact, there are several manufactures that offer water purifiers that use UV light. This cleaning technique is more eco-friendly than treating water with chemicals. Almost all the pollutants in the air are carbon-based compounds. These compounds break down when exposed to high-intensity UV light at 240-280 nm.

Hospitals have used UV technology for years to sterilize the air in their facilities. Halo vacuum cleaners also use this green cleaning technology to kill germs, bacteria, mold, dust mite eggs, and flea eggs that fester deep in carpet fibers. Halo vacuum cleaners suck up dirt as well as any other vacuum, but unlike other models, they kill microorganisms like E.coli and Samonella. Rather than use toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and humans to sterilize surfaces, a Halo vacuum cleaner is a great alternative.

Electrokinetic remediation is a green technology used to clean land, especially to restore contaminated waste sites. The section of soil that has been contaminated is exposed to a low voltage direct-current electric field. When the electrodes are charged, ions and water move toward the electrodes. The ions flow through the outer casing of the electrode, which contains water, where they are then removed for treatment. Bioreactors and bioventing technology are two forms of bioremediation that are used to remediate soil that has been contaminated by fuel.

Oil Gone Easy S-200 also uses bioremediation to help fight oil spill pollution both on land and in water. This eco-friendly product is more readily available than bioreactors or bioventing technology and is ideal for home and boat owners.

Popularity: 4% [?]