For the parking lot drain at High Tech High North Country we have observed the drains and the conditions that the drains were in. After our monthly inspections, there didn’t seem to be any concerning aspects about the drain other than a few rocks and trash. The eventual rain came and we took a few samples of the water running into our drain. After a few weeks, the results of the water revealed that our drain water was fine in terms of the concerning aspects of parking lot drains, which includes oils and grease. |
The EPA(Environmental Protection Agency) benchmark for oils and grease for storm water drains is 15 milligrams per liter and the results the we got revealed that the water contained 0 milligrams of oil or grease per liter. This result is definitely the preferred outcome for the drains as it doesn’t affect anything other than clean water running into the drain. Something that worries me would be the consistency of the results, however, considering that the results were 0, meeting the benchmark or having a score under the benchmark is still water that can be reused for irrigation. Other than that, I don’t see any other use of the water unless you find a way to collect and filter it for use in school facilities.
This past research and action upon the parking lot drain at High Tech High North County have surely been eventful. Complete soaking in the knowledge about what causes drain pollution and the contributing factors towards TSS(total suspended solids) has been a journey. After several months of inspecting the drains assigned to us, trying to reduce pollution through simple methods and clearing out the sediment each month, we finally received the results from the lab. The results suggest that the water running into our drain from the parking lot is clear of oil and grease standing at 0 milligrams per liter. Surpassing the EPA standards leaves the water free of major grease and oil, however, there are other problems concerning the parking lot drains besides oils and greases. Total Suspended Solids is the next big problem if there isn’t any oil and grease to reduce. From the several inspections of the drain, there is definitely a problem of TSS, rocks, trash, leaves, and sediment have been running into our drain. Possible steps that we covered to improve and reduce the TSS in our drain would be integrating a mesh just after the catch basin or into the opening. This would still catch trash and other pieces of the contributing factors of TSS and direct water to the watershed.
A career path that has certainly interested me over the past years would be the career of a pulmonologist. I’m definitely determined to find a career or job in either the field of engineering or medicine, a pulmonologist certainly fits my criteria for my path. A little of my personal feelings and problems have been the driving factor in my interest as a pulmonologist as pulmonology deals with diseases revolving the respiratory tract or lungs. I’ve always had asthma and it really affected my life in elementary constantly carrying an inhaler but as of now, I have relieved myself of most of the symptoms of asthma. This was a miserable time for me and for everyone afflicted with asthma so helping with respiratory diseases such as asthma and asthma seems like a path I could take to the future.
This past research and action upon the parking lot drain at High Tech High North County have surely been eventful. Complete soaking in the knowledge about what causes drain pollution and the contributing factors towards TSS(total suspended solids) has been a journey. After several months of inspecting the drains assigned to us, trying to reduce pollution through simple methods and clearing out the sediment each month, we finally received the results from the lab. The results suggest that the water running into our drain from the parking lot is clear of oil and grease standing at 0 milligrams per liter. Surpassing the EPA standards leaves the water free of major grease and oil, however, there are other problems concerning the parking lot drains besides oils and greases. Total Suspended Solids is the next big problem if there isn’t any oil and grease to reduce. From the several inspections of the drain, there is definitely a problem of TSS, rocks, trash, leaves, and sediment have been running into our drain. Possible steps that we covered to improve and reduce the TSS in our drain would be integrating a mesh just after the catch basin or into the opening. This would still catch trash and other pieces of the contributing factors of TSS and direct water to the watershed.
A career path that has certainly interested me over the past years would be the career of a pulmonologist. I’m definitely determined to find a career or job in either the field of engineering or medicine, a pulmonologist certainly fits my criteria for my path. A little of my personal feelings and problems have been the driving factor in my interest as a pulmonologist as pulmonology deals with diseases revolving the respiratory tract or lungs. I’ve always had asthma and it really affected my life in elementary constantly carrying an inhaler but as of now, I have relieved myself of most of the symptoms of asthma. This was a miserable time for me and for everyone afflicted with asthma so helping with respiratory diseases such as asthma and asthma seems like a path I could take to the future.