by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, editor
WorldSweeper.com
Porous Pavement: Addressing the Newest Cleaning Challenge
We are proud to report that June 21st, when this newsletter is being sent out, marks the 11th anniversary of WorldSweeper.com.
A concept that is fast advancing to address stormwater runoff pollution are porous pavement installations. Also called 'permeable pavement,' these types of pavement configurations allow water to drain through seemingly solid paved surfaces to a subsurface layer below.
Since pollutants – a large proportion of which are attached to small particles of 250-microns or less (human hair is about 70-microns wide), there is significant mitigation value in keeping these small particles out of the runoff stream. If the pollution-laden particles are not allowed to collect on the surface then they are eliminated from the runoff stream.
In those situations there is a good reduction in the runoff of hydrocarbons and metals because they tend to attach themselves to fine particles. However, as you might imagine, it is vitally important to keep the surface clean such that the porosity of the pavement is not compromised. That's where sweeping comes in; not just any sweeping, but frequent sweeping performed in a 'best practices manner.'
The advent of porous pavement is an invitation to the power sweeping industry to provide increased sweeping. However, to do so it's important for contractors, as well as property managers in charge of maintaining the long-term condition of these types of pavement, to become informed about the preventive aspects of keeping the surfaces cleaned regularly and, thus, free-flowing.
If you haven't been requested to sweep porous pavement yet, it won't be long until you are. Because of the opportunity this type of surface offers to the power sweeping industry, as well as the future implications installation of porous pavement has for the quality of our bodies of water, I encourage both sweeping contractors and public works directors to read our lead story in this issue. These types of surfaces are being hailed as the next big thing in the fight for maintaining clean water and improving the cleanliness of the stormwater runoff stream.
As always, if you have any news of potential interest to the power sweeping community, please let us know. Between this publication, the WorldSweeper.com website, and the World Sweeping Association, we'll be sure to get the information passed along to interested readers.
Good Sweeping,
Editor, WorldSweeper.com
Executive Director, World Sweeping Association
PS If you haven't 'liked' our WorldSweeper Facebook page, what are you waiting for? That's where we offer industry previews and updates on an ongoing basis.
June Newsletter Contents
(Scroll down to read stories or click on links.)
Porous Pavement: Addressing the Cleaning Challenge
- Overview and BMPs for Cleaning Porous Pavement
- World Sweeping Association Scholarship Deadline is July 1st
- Sweepings' Management Fact Sheet by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- "The Old Motor" Offers New Photo Assembly of Old Sweeper Photos
- Beach Cleaning: 7-Star Dubai Hotel Chooses Cherrington's Beach Sweeper
- New Toy and Mac OS App Available for 'Little Sweepers'
- Featured Contractor: Consolidated Service Group
- Not Exactly Sweeping: Coal-tar Based Sealcoating Far More Toxic Than Previously Suspected
Overview and BMPs for Cleaning Porous Pavement
A concept that is fast advancing to address stormwater runoff pollution are porous pavement installations. Also called 'permeable pavement,' this type of pavement configurations allow water to drain through seemingly solid paved surfaces to a subsurface layer below.
The advent of porous pavement is an invitation to the power sweeping industry to provide increased sweeping. However, to do so it's important for contractors, as well as property managers in charge of maintaining the long-term condition of these types of pavement, to become informed about the preventive aspects of keeping the surfaces cleaned regularly and, thus, free-flowing.
If you haven't been requested to sweep porous pavement yet, it won't be long until you are. Because of the opportunity this type of surface offers to the power sweeping industry, as well as the future implications installation of porous pavement has for the quality of our bodies of water, I encourage both sweeping contractors and public works directors to read our lead story in this issue. These types of surfaces are being hailed as the next big thing in the fight for maintaining clean water and improving the cleanliness of the stormwater runoff stream.
Read all about porous pavement.
World Sweeping Association Scholarship Deadline is July 1st
In the past three years, the World Sweeping Association has awarded $12,000 in scholarships in memory of long-time power sweeping luminaries, the late Carl J. Austin and Dale McCaskill, Sr. This year that tradition will continue with two scholarships to be awarded of up to $2,000 each – but the entry deadline is July 1st.
To qualify, students must be a near relative of someone working at a sweeping company (relative cannot be a company principal) or someone working at the company. If you would like to donate to the WSA Scholarship Fund you June do so via credit card or PayPal account via this link. Alternatively, if you would like to contact WSA about donating an auction item(s) for the benefit auction that will be held later this year, please send WSA an email.
See previous winners, WSA's scholarship donation link, and download a notice of scholarship availability for your company bulletin board.
Sweepings' Management Fact Sheet by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
This article links to a 2010 PDF fact sheet developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The PDF outlines management options for reuse of street sweepings. It also provides a definition for what street sweeping materials are and are not. Although six years old, the information remains valid and was just added to the WorldSweeper collection of best practices material.
The best practices handout was designed to provide an overview on material picked up via street sweeping. It includes:
- What sweepings are and are not.
- How material collected off the street June and June not be used.
- Screening guidelines for the material.
- Links to more information on the topic.
Take a look.
"The Old Motor" Offers New Photo Assembly of Old Sweeper Photos
The Old Motor is an entertaining and informative vintage automobile internet magazine. One of the magazine's newest compilations is a page of vintage street sweepers dating from the early 1900s. In addition to viewing a dozen vintage sweeper photos, you June also read about the beginning of the sweeping industry in the U.S., which began in the 1850s when "horse-drawn machines with large rotary brushes began to be used for sweeping."
Some of the photos show patent drawings of the time, which illustrate the many ideas inventors had for making a machine to clean paved streets. Others are pictures of completed sweepers that were actually used in their 'moment in time.'
Read all about it.
Beach Cleaning: 7-Star Dubai Hotel Chooses Cherrington's Beach Sweeper
Cherrington Beach Cleaners notified us that their company was chosen to supply one of its beach cleaners to the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, the world's only 7-star hotel.
This is the second Cherrington Beach Cleaner Model 5500 purchased by the Jumeirah Group. They also use a Cherrington 5500 and two Cherrington Model 3000's at the Madinat Mina A'Salam, also in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Find out more.
New Toy and Mac OS App Available for 'Little Sweeper Operators'
Mika "Sweeper Spin" is a Mac OS game. The app is a street sweeper driving simulator for children aged 3-6 years old. The promo for the app says: "Want to know what it's like to be a real sweeper driver? Meet a small, perky street sweeper who turns any job into a fun adventure." The app is $2.99.
WOW Toys Stanley Street Sweeper is a plastic sweeper with twin front brushes and is approximately 7" long. Comes with a 'driver' named Jason. Info blurb says: "Push him along to see his brushes automatically rotate, and spin the 3 trash panels to match and sort the litter!" @$30 Canadian.
Here's a link to the appshopper.com sales website for the Mac OS app, or check out the Stanley Street Sweeper at the Mastermind Toys website.
Featured Contractor: Consolidated Service Group
Michael Diglio grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. As a result, when he started college at the age of 18 it seemed only natural to, at the same time, start a business of his own.
Today, Consolidated Service Group (CSG) boasts offices in three major market areas of Florida. The firm's headquarters are in Orlando, with regional offices in both Tampa and Jacksonville.
Read about Consolidated Service Group.
Not Exactly Sweeping: Coal-tar Based Sealcoating Far More Toxic Than Previously Suspected
The pavement sealcoat products used widely around the nation on thousands of asphalt driveways and parking lots are significantly more toxic and mutagenic than previously suspected, according to a new paper recently published by researchers from Oregon State University.
Of particular concern are the sealcoat products based on use of coal tar emulsions, experts say. The primary concern in sealcoats are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are common products of any type of combustion, and have been shown to be toxic to birds, fish, amphibians, plants and mammals, including humans. The OSU study also showed that new PAH compounds found in coal tar sealcoats had a carcinogenic risk that was 4 percent to 40 percent higher than any study had previously showed.
Check out the details.
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