How did choosing the right concrete washout solution get so confusing? Is there a right and wrong? A concrete washout pan is a concrete washout pan, right?
I have been in the construction industry for over 40 years. “Back in the old days” it was common practice for construction companies to pick a random spot and tell the driver, “Washout over there”. While it was not a big deal at the time, as a country, we began to be smarter about how we disposed of waste in the US. Environmental laws came into place to prevent pollution of our waters. The 1972 Clean Water Act is a law to protect the water quality of bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Basically, this means you cannot washout or clean a concrete truck, concrete pump truck, masonry tools, and any concrete tools or equipment on to the ground without some sort of containment.
Don’t want to wash out or let any concrete make it to the storm drain. Big Fines! HUGE!
https://www.bothellwa.gov/1700/Concrete-waste
Identify the best concrete washout containment solution for your project
Most construction projects will probably have “Storm Water Permit” also known as a SWPPP or SWMP or other acronyms depending on the area you are in. If you are the one in charge of the project, you will need to build a compliance plan with identifiable best management practices (BMPs) and apply for a storm water permit. Within that permit, you will need to specify what kind of concrete washout containment you will have on site, and where it will be. A concrete washout containment is considered a best management practice. The EPA has a good guideline of best practices for concrete washout containments. The following are some things we believe are important when choosing a method and a list of different concrete washout containments with reasons to help you make that decision.
* Concrete truck drivers are trained to ask, “Where is the concrete washout area?” before the pour starts.
* Rainwater can fill up a containment area quickly. Think about a lid or cover solutions.
* Cheap may be good in the beginning, but in the long run it may cost more to mitigate the waste
* Install your containment at the start of the project to have time to get the proper containment in place.
* Managing the amount of concrete to be washed out. Will there be left over concrete or just residual concrete in the truck?
* Plan how you will manage and dispose of the concrete washout waste, do not wait until your concrete washout is full before you find a way to dispose.
* Learn the regulations for your area and the requirements in a storm water permit.
* Check your project specifications for any specific requirements, some projects will require a specific type of concrete washout containment.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly of common concrete washout solutions
https://www.stormwaterhawaii.com/tips/concrete-pours-for-diy-home-improvement-projects/
The Kiddie Pool
This is not a concrete washout pan. It is usually an afterthought or the cheapest way to get the job done. The good, is it is cheap and usually available at the nearest Wal-Mart. The bad, it is made of thin plastic which can easily get punctured and defeats the purpose of the intended use and may not be approved for the project storm water permit. The ugly, it will probably sit around the job site or get dumped out prematurely. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 1/10
https://www.valorenv.com/stormwater-management-101-concrete-washouts/
Plastic Lined Concrete Washout Pit
This is a common practice by either excavating a hole in the ground or stacking straw bales and lining with plastic. The good, it is cost effective for large amounts of wash outs. The bad, it is stationary and cannot be accessed easily by pump trucks or other workers that may need to clean tools quickly and may not be meet storm water or project requirements. The ugly, it will need to be cleaned out with heavy equipment and is messy to clean up. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 6/10
Portable, Foldable & Disposable Washout Tubs
The first thing to pop up when searching for a wash out solution. The good, can be purchased in bulk and easy set up and cheap in cost. The bad, maybe hard to handle either before hardening or after due to the flimsy structure. The ugly, they are small and may get over filled which violates the storm water act. Has a potential to fall apart and could turn into a big mess. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 5/10
Plastic Concrete Washout Tubs
These are becoming more popular by replacing metal concrete washout pans. The good, they are light, easily transported when empty and can be handled by one person. The bad, in comparing to metal concrete washout pans, they cannot be lifted with a crane. The ugly, when empty due to being light the wind can easily blow them away. Also, if not lifted correctly when full the flimsiness could result in a uncontrolled spill. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 8/10
Portable Bucket
Sometimes provided by the concrete truck company. The good, provided by concrete supplier and used as a one and done pour situation. The bad, can only be used once and may get overfilled and may not meet the storm water requirement of a project. The ugly, overfilling due to the small size thus either over filling causing a mess or the concrete truck may have to stop short of cleaning causing a at the concrete to harden on the truck. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 2/10
Roll Off Concrete Washout Tub
Usually provided by a company specializing in concrete waste. The good, more than likely will meet the project storm water requirements and is simply managed by calling the supplier to come and get it when full. The bad, it is heavy and cannot be moved out of the way unless large equipment is available on the job. The Ugly, they always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Easily ran into with equipment and pickup trucks just because they cannot be moved out of the way. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 9/10
Metal Concrete Washout Pan
Most Common either by owning, renting or from a service provider. The good, there is a reason these are the most common: easily transported, meets storm water requirements, many sizes to choose from, can be set under a pump truck, most can be rigged for lifting with a crane and generally can have a lid. The bad, cost maybe be a factor unless you are in the business of pouring concrete. Then, the cost is returned with many uses. The ugly, could overflow, and need a place to dump when complete unless it is a service, or the storm water and project may be able to dump out on site after hardening. Concrete Washout Containment Score: 9/10
When is each concrete washout solution recommended?
You may notice that we did not give any concrete washout solution a perfect 10/10. We believe there is not a perfect one-size fits all solution. At the end of the day, you will need to identify which concrete washout solution makes the most sense for your construction company and the projects that you pursue. Some sites will require specific tubs. Many Colorado Department of Transportation projects require a pre-approved concrete washout pan which limit your options.
If you find yourself needing a concrete washout solution for a one-time use in small volumes, then the foldable canvas washout tubs may be the best solution for you. We recommend avoiding the kiddie pool at all costs. If you want to go with plastic, at least get a plastic concrete washout tub that is designed for concrete washout containment.
If you have regular concrete washout needs, then we recommend using metal concrete washout pans. A standard commercial site can easily manage concrete waste with a 3 CY concrete washout pan. A concrete washout pan that is rated for lifting with a crane, is also going to be essential for high rise construction. If you recycle your own concrete, multiple concrete washout pans will be your friend for easy disposal on your projects.
If you are regularly doing high volume concrete pours and do not want to recycle your own concrete on industrial, heavy civil, or large commercial projects, we recommend using metal roll-off concrete washout tubs from a concrete washout service provider, as they are easy to manage, hold a large capacity and are much easier to manage than the concrete washout pit. Just make sure you find a laydown area where they will not be in the way.
Mike Frick - About The Author
Mike Frick has worked in heavy, highway and mining construction for more than 40 years either as an owner or working on large to mega projects in a management position and has a heavy background in environmental management.