Environmental Investigations in Dry Cleaning Operations
Contaminant Source Areas - Where to Sample IV
This info-letter is the 11th entry of our series on drycleaning operations,
their impact on the environment and ensuing hurdles they pose in real estate transactions.
The previous entry can be viewed here.
Floor Drains
Sampling should also be conducted near floor drains.
If
solvent wastes are discharged down floor drains plumbed with PVC
piping, PCE can soften and even dissolve the PVC. The elbow joints of
drain lines are particularly susceptible to dissolution.
Floor drains are commonly located in the boiler room at drycleaning
facilities. Since PCE vapors are denser than air, the vapors tend to
settle to the floor, particularly after the drycleaning plant has been
shut down for the day. These vapors will migrate to low spots along the
facility floor and floor drains.
Floor expansion joints and cracks in the floor slab are prime entry point for these vapors.
(The information in this newsletter has been gleaned from an EPA
sponsored
site http://www.drycleancoalition.org and enhanced with pictures obtained from the Web.)
