Road Dust

Here is your golden opportunity to invent a system of brushes that vehicles from dusty roads can drive over, before traveling on "clean" roads.

I have seen rumble grates, shallow ponds, tire washing systems, soil stabilizers, use of water trucks, sweeper trucks, manual cleanup and others. Just want the insight on which is best way to go so I don't have to deal with environmental risks, complaints or fines

Give us a little more info.

It is dust, or mud? Mud tracks, dust flies.

Where?

How big's the operation?

Etc.

I have found that the least objectionable method (least objectionable to those who insist on this being done) is the most expensive.

Investigate the out of pocket costs, the hassle factor, and the exposure to litigation associated with each method. Identify the most troublesome, most expensive, and most likely to result in defending yourself in court, and you will have the only one that will be acceptable.

^{... not that I am bitter or anything.}

Tisk, tisk. We aren't letting the bureaucrats with minuscule minds beat us down, are we?

Minuscule minds? What a kind and generous description of these fellows.

Nah, I'm over it... mostly.... well, sort of... OK, it still bugs me a little. I hope it doesn't show.

Depends on the dust track. We use water in some parts (such as rural areas), gravel in others, but generally the sections of rural or dust roads leading to any main road are sealed for some distance so that by the time a vehicle traveling on a dust road gets to the main road the vehicle is (fairly) clean.

If the area with dust roads gets developed to a certain degree then the dust roads are replaced with gravel and then sealed roads.

Additionally I have seen driveway roads leading to dust main roads sealed with water damping at the transition to the main dust road. This is more for (richer) individual rural homeowners.

There is no silver bullet solution that works for every situation. Some solutions are better than others (and it generally comes down to benefit vs cost).

1. Wait for Rain.

2. Because it is cheap, and gets you back into the real world.

Tarmac!

I think I am going with an automated wheel washing system. It seems like it will fit any scenario, the water recirculates itself through filters and re-enters the wash so I don't have to deal with stormwater run-off, It can fit into tight spaces and is cheaper than having the entire runway paved.

I wish you the best of luck with this one...... there is a deeper underlying problem that you've not shared as to why you have to wash your wheels. I didn't known that dust would present such a problem that it needs to be removed, mud yes!

On most construction sites in urban areas ordinances prohibit any markings (heavy dust tracks, mud, oil, etc) from being deposited on public road surfaces. We are routinely forced through wash stations. Since we are usually not the GC, I don't know how much it costs, but it often consists of a drive section of very large gravel where you hose every thing off of your tires. I know I've been warned that we would pay fines if responsible for them.

That's exactly right. It is not just the mud it is the sediment itself being tracked out. The concern is that public traffic is going to drive over your sediment and stir it up into the air creating fugitive or nuisance dust. This form of dust is now linked to health issues and needs to be controlled. The vehicle track out needs to be cleaned up at the end of the day if the track out is less than 25 feet, if it is more then it needs to be cleaned every hour. It is definetly a headache you don't want to deal with. I went with a Neptune Tire Wash System that is being installed next Tuesday and I will let you all know how it works. They had the best warranties and allowed me to check out their other customers and find out about their machines. It is not a cheap fix, but when I look at the risk of possible fines (which I learned are hefty), hiring and hoping someone keeps the problem at bay, not dealing with neighbor complaints and the fact that I can take the whole system with me when I leave this site...well that almost pays for itself. I'll let you all know how it goes. Next California will want everyone to buy individual air monitor devices that mount on our butt.

the way you phrased that last sentence almost gives one the concept of a collective butt.

It really is a little ridiculous all the restrictions but we are forced to abide by the times i guess. If anything I can at least stay that I stayed within the compliance standards and it is all really just to avoid all the little headaches that come along with what really matters, and that is doing my job. I just hope it never comes down to rectal monitoring (HAHA).

Would you control your emissions of PM10 without regulation?

do you find the regulation ridiculous because they cost you money?

do you disagree with the science that led to the regulation?

should the public subsidize the negative health effects of your operation?

I understand the scientific findings involved in the decision for control placement. It comes down to teaching old dogs new tricks. To answer each question: 1. I would control the dust emissions if there was a visual hazard to workers or operation. 2. It does initially seem like another way for state and local government to make money off our backs (don't get me started on that subject), with new permit requirements, equipment tax etc.. 3. I never disagree with scientific findings and understand their purpose and in this case their health concerns. Like I said in the beginning, old dog-new trick. In the back of my mind I am thinking...It's just dust!, been around forever, we had it around as kids and we turned out alright.

With that said, I am not naive, I know that times and technology, science and standards change and need to be addressed and adapted to so I am abiding.

On the jobs I've been working on here in Phoenix AZ we use track out rock, and then as need a street sweeper to clean the dust of the road. With the 114 + F weather we been getting this past week it's been a chore to keep the dust off the roads.

Bakerjohn, have you guys looked into these tire wash systems at all?

Water issues plus run-off (SWPPP) issues. It would be concidered a waste water that needs to be treated.