Lone Star Radiator Company, Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Radiator Service

Industry: Vehicle Maintenance

Wastes Reduced: Wastewater

Substance: Heavy Metals

Equipment: Precipitate & Filter

Location: San Antonio TX

No. of employees: 12

Contact: David Bippert

Phone: (210) 732-7558

Description:

Water from from our operations contains heavy metals that make the water hazardous. This can no longer be discharged to the city's sanitary sewer and there are few waste haulers able to handle the waste (and it is expensive to have them haul it off).

P2 Application:

Lone Star located a system produced by E/CAR Environmental that utilizes chemical treatment to remove oil products and heavy metals. The heavy metals and other solids drop out of the solution as a sludge and the water can be reused for general cleaning in the shop. The sludge is dried and shipped to a certified recycler (Concorde-Houston) who reclaims the metals. Likewise, the petroleum products are sent to a recycler.

Environmental Benefits:

This closed loop process eliminated the disposal of hazardous wastewater and reduced water needs by 36,000 gallons a month. Lone Star was the first radiator shop in San Antonio to install this closed loop system.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The entire system cost about $40,000. To dispose of 36,000 gallons of hazardous waste a month would have cost well over $100,000 each month.

Source: TCEQ