Water Source eNewsletter June 2011 Edition

The Water Source June 2011 Issue from Ben Meadows

The Water Source | A Free eNewsletter from Ben Meadows | 1-800-241-6401

June 2011

Featured Products Our online Water Guide can help you find the products and information you need to get the job done.Click here.

PCB Soil Sampling Kit	HACH® Stormwater Test Kit	XSORB® Sorbent, 25-lb. Bag	Rite in the Rain® Waterproof Calendar

Hello everyone and thanks for opening The Water Source.

It has been a rough spring with all the storms and tornados tearing through the US. Our thoughts go out to all of the people who were affected by these terrible events, but we also have concern for the environmental hazards can be brought upon during and after the cleanup of the aftermath. In this issue we will cover some of these concerns.

Also, don't forget about your chance to win by answering the Spout Off question at the end of this eNewsletter. And, as always, if you have any interesting stories or topics you'd like to share, drop me an email at editor@benmeadows.com and maybe you'll see it in a future edition of The Water Source!

Brian
Ben Meadows Product Pro

Twisted Pollution

Tornadoes cause devastating injuries and property damage, but what about environmental damage in the aftermath? There's always trash and debris to clean up, but there can also be unseen chemical hazards.

Damage to chemical plants, fuel-storage buildings and waste-storage facilities can lead to pollutant spills that hurt streams, lakes, soils and groundwater. These can be large contamination sources, so most of the hazardous cleanup effort is focused there, while other, smaller sources can be unseen or be ignored. The smaller sources include:

Lead paint and asbestos from older buildings
Downed electrical transformers containing toxic oils and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Industrial and household chemicals/cleaners
Treated lumber
Gas/oil from vehicles, machinery and gas stations

These materials pollute soils and waterways, and can be hazards for cleanup crews. If proper precautions and personal protective equipment aren't used, they can cause health problems. With large disasters, such as the recent tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo., rules and regulations are sometimes relaxed to make the cleanup easier. Burning debris sends pollutants into the air, and hazardous waste could contaminate soil and groundwater.

If you don't have a trained hazard-response team to handle everything, spreading knowledge is key. Be prepared with hazard-response groups and educate the public to limit damage.

Source:
Environmental Hazards Remain after Joplin Tornado

Today's Green Tip: Washing Your Fancy Sports Car...or Minivan

A warm summer day is a good time to pull your car out of the garage to give it a good washing, but where do most people do this? In their driveway. Detergents and chemicals as well as oils and dirt from your vehicle run down your driveway directly into storm drains. Keep these pollutants from entering stormwater runoff by washing your car over a permeable surface such as grass or gravel. This way the water will filter through the soil and pollutants can naturally biodegrade. It is also best to use a biodegradable or eco-friendly detergent and if you take your vehicle someplace to get it washed, take it to a place that recycles the wastewater.

Product Spotlight

MIDLAND® HH54VP2 Weather Radio

Weather Radio Monitors More Than 60 Weather and Emergency Hazards

Tornadoes, hurricanes, civil emergencies, fires, thunderstorms—the HH54VP2 Weather Radio keeps you informed of these and many other hazards.

Ben Meadows is on Facebook!

You can get the scoop on new products, hot news, entertaining tidbits and offers you won't find anywhere else when you join us on Facebook.

Spout Off!
Your Chance to Win!

Last Issue's Winner:
Jack from North Charleston, SC knows that a Bogorov Counting Chamber is used for counting zooplankton.

We will be sending Jack Bushnell® H2O™ Waterproof 8 x 25mm Binoculars.

This Issue's Question:
According to the Ben Meadows Catalog, the new ThunderBolt® Storm Detectors can identify storm cells, squall lines and supercells within what distance?

Send your answer via email to: editor@benmeadows.com

While you're at it, let us know your job title and function and what topics you'd like to see covered in future issues of The Water Source.

Answers must be received by by Tuesday July 12th, 2011. We'll select one lucky prize winner from all the correct entries. If you are selected, we will notify you by email. Don't forget to include an address (if you win, we'll need to know where to send your prize)!

This month's prize: MIDLAND® Desktop Weather Radio a $39.99 value.

To be eligible to receive a prize you must include your name and mailing address. This information must correspond to your benmeadows.com registration information. If you are not registered at benmeadows.com click here and register TODAY! Government and healthcare customers are not eligible for free offers.

Complete contest rules available here.

If you have any specific questions about product specifications, applications or compliance issues, call one of our Product Pros at 1-800-241-6401 or e-mail them at: ProductPros@benmeadows.com.

If you have any questions about the list or its contents, send e-mail to the Editor at: editor@benmeadows.com.

The Water Source is copyrighted by GHC Specialty Brands, LLC. Ben Meadows Company is a division of GHC Specialty Brands, LLC. Those wishing to re-publish a written piece in any other form or medium must first receive permission from GHC Specialty Brands, LLC. To request permission, e-mail: g.lee@labsafety.com.

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The goal of The Water Source is to provide accurate information on the subject matters covered. However, it is impossible to guarantee absolute accuracy of the materials. Therefore, the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for omissions, errors or misprinting contained within this publication.