Rock Runoff

Stains/Surfaces
21

@anon26752184
Apologies, I was at work and didn’t have much time. I figured others would come on correct what was wrong.

Let’s go one by one

“
pretreatment of SH onto a dry porous surface, which has organic growth on it won’t run-off into the drain.
“

If there is runoff into a drain, it will have SH.

———
“It’s super absorbent, it soaks right in. Deep.”

No deeper than water, and not as deep as all the mold lives. The chemical nature of SH means it can’t get deep enough on a porous surface to actually kill all the mold.
———
“The heat makes SH dissipate much faster.”

You didn’t quantify you were pre-wetting a scorching surface. However, let’s say you were. Heat increases the chemical reaction that turns SH into salt and water, but it’s not an instantaneous thing. Again, if there is runoff it will have SH
———

“The actual SH oxidises the mould and the potency is dramatically reduced due to this chemical reaction.
“
False. If you were to oxidize mold it would cause it to grow, not die. SH kills mold by attacking the cells, it also has a pH that is really unsuitable for life…which is why vinegar also kills mold. (It’s actually a diluted form of glacial acetic acid)

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“
you’re not washing 12.5% SH down the drain.
“
That I can agree with…then again it wasn’t 12.5% the minute you put it in the water stream. It’s still enough to have the pH be too high for a discharge into the drain.

I am well liked (okay maybe except the wall thread, lol!) because I’m a straight shooter. I don’t sugar coat things and I use plain English to explain complex chemical processes. I have been employed as a chemist for over 20 years. So when I say
“WHAT!!! WHAT!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Please don’t spread that information to newbies.”

I mean; what, what, nooooooo; as in, you are wrong. There are certain chemical processes that can be explained in a rudimentary way, but thinking that somehow all the SH just went poof would be incorrect. If you don’t believe me, capture the runoff, then have someone who doesn’t smell SH all day take a whiff. They will say it smells like bleach.

Is it 12.5%, no. It’s still not okay to go down a drain.

2 Likes
22

:+1:t2: Thanks for taking the time to explain @CaCO3Girl

I do wish there was a simple way to test it, like litmus paper, but a bit more accurate, with actual amounts, not just it’s presence.

I think it’s an insignificant amount - you think it’s significant.

So it’s not all wrong - SH goes into the drain of course - it’s just that we don’t know how much is going into the drain and the variables make it hard to say as a rule.

:slight_smile:

23

So I went off and had a good read about SH from various sources.

I found an interesting read here:

Sodium hypochlorite is very toxic to aquatic organisms. However, as the substance is extremely reactive, any sodium hypochlorite that is poured into the drain from household use will react with organic matter and will be removed before reaching the environment. Chlorine does not persist in the atmosphere either.

It says household use granted, and I used “oxidise” instead of “react” - but that’s from a greeny website too!

I think I’m just saying, I don’t just make up stuff, I read and research everything I do and everything I use. That’s in reference to you saying I’m spreading bad info to people.

Anyway, until I find a way to test the actual amount, I’ll heed your warning.

Source:

24

The way that you spell certain words leads me to believe you aren’t in the US. In many, many, many locals in the states if you let a pH like that go down the drain you are looking at hundreds of dollars of fines.

1 Like
25

Correct. And correct :slight_smile:

Do you know what sort of pH is permissible, just curious…

26

Sooooooo would Racers method above be more environmentally sensitive? Pretreat w roof mix. 4 hours later wash away? Would that significantly minimize storm drain runoff?

27

Unfortunately I can’t say what is safe in your location. I can say that anytime you let a chemical go down a drain it would be wise to know your local laws regarding that.

3 Likes
28

Yes, the blanket statement you made saying SH won’t run off into the drain is bad information.

Yes, SH reacts with organic material, but think of it like this. If you have a blanket of algae/mold are you going to spray just enough SH to react with the organics, or are you going to be spraying a crud load more? No one sprays exactly enough to kill the mold with zero left over. It’s just not a method that is fast and effective.

1 Like
29

In my specific location a pH of up to 11 is permissible, I tell my local people to shoot for
10 in case they are off slightly. The pH of 12.5% SH is 13. The pH of a standard caustic roof mix is 14.

pH is a confusing thing. If you take 1 gallon of a pH 10 stuff and mix it with one gallon of a pH 14 stuff you do NOT get a gallon of pH 12 stuff. I field at least one call a month about that. Also, if you have 10% of a pH 12.5 stuff in water, and add in another 20% of pH 12.5 stuff you will STILL be at a pH of 12.5. Did I mention pH is a confusing thing?

1 Like
30

Absolutely right! The rules are different from city to city too, even if they are in the same county. In one city we serve we are basically required to reclaim everything, even if it’s just water with no chem. Others don’t care much at all as long as you aren’t dumping straight 12.5% down the drain.

2 Likes