Several years back, I made my first effort to clean the outside of a home that was crying out for it. Got it done without any pressure washing. Started by using a hand held quart sprayer with pre-mixed 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner.
I felt like it worked well. Later, I bought the gallon concentrate and diluted it myself.
Several years later, I have moved on to using a pump sprayer.
Here is a good video to watch before heading out to buy one:
Happy with the sprayer and it minimizes any need to step on a ladder.
These days, I am mixing my own home brew bleach and detergent solution. The images above were done with the home brew. There are various recipes on the web for mixing your own solution.
I am not a big promoter of Earth Day. Whatever I believe in is mostly present with the same intensity all year long.
I am fascinated with the actions of elected officials and the press on Earth Day.
Politicians promote themselves on Earth Day. Newspeople play along by not asking questions.
Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?
Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?
Love to see newspeople ask:
When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?
Background
Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
Image at top of page: 4/22/2022
Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
“The chemical compounds known as PFAS were found years ago in groundwater at levels above the EPA’s lifetime health advisory limit.”
“Farms near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Ault Field and Outlying Field Coupeville will likely be among those notified as the chemical compounds known as PFAS were found years ago in groundwater surrounding those installations at levels above the EPA’s lifetime health advisory limit.”
“Notification packets will include a letter from the base commanding officer, a copy of the law and the range of levels for PFOA, PFOS, and/or PFBS found in groundwater.”
“They are used to make coatings and products resistant to oil and water, or to reduce friction. They are added to carpets, cookware, food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and other common consumer products. PFAS also have many industrial applications and are used to make certain types of firefighting foams.”
“PFAS contamination has been found in drinking water wells in Airway Heights, North Whidbey Island, Issaquah, and at Joint Base Lewis-McChord above EPA’s health advisory level.”
“As of today at our stores, we’re going to suspend the use of reusable bags,” Rosauers CEO Jeff Philipps said at a Spokane Regional Health District press conference this morning. “I think there’s some concern by some that those bags may have viruses that are being brought from home. So we’re going to suspend that practice.”
Is the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of investigative reporting & newspeople asking questions.
I’m a fan of voluntary action and allowing businesspeople to make business decisions.
If the green friendly cafe wants to make moves that are supported by their customers, I’m all for that.
If the truck stop wants to sell discount cartons of cigarettes, I’m good with that.
Americans were never meant to live in a one size fits all society, that’s why we have so many churches here and people who may opt out on attending services.
The plastic bag ban is another of many examples where freedoms may come & go-completely unrelated to military operations/US Troops in distant lands, or the Sound of Freedom.
Just down the road from this handsome sign. A 9/28/19 image of an abandoned/vandalized RV on county property at Hwy 20 and Libbey Road. RV has been in place for more than a month.
“Murray explained that it was unknown at the time if the mine was inert, so it could not safely be towed to shore for further assessment, although she added the mine was towed to a location “determined to be safest to the immediate population” for this operation.”
Urinals and toilets routed to stormwater system rather than wastewater system. Sewage then “…flowed through the underground pipes to an outfall and into Sinclair Inlet, Leppard said.”
Some version of this scene is pretty common. I mostly don’t post about it. Once in a while- maybe it’s a good reminder. Maybe just a way to vent a little.
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Mystery Bay is not a remote location where the policy applies to hiking trails or primitive campsites. Mystery Bay is just down the road from a full service state park- Fort Flagler.
Mystery Bay has a picnic shelter which is fully accessible by car. Boats pay to stay overnight.
Mystery Bay charges $10 per day, per car to access the park:
I do not object in any way to pack it out policies for remote locations, islands, hiking trails, primitive campsites, etc.
My feeling is that state parks that are accessible by car, have picnic shelters and charge for day use should provide trash service.
Cat box theory- make it easy for people to do the right thing and most people will.
People are supposed to clean up after their dogs. If they stay for 3 nights on their boat- are they supposed to tow a refrigerated dog crap container to pack it out? Pack it out to where?
If a person rents a car and travels the US for a couple weeks- where are they supposed to pack it out to?
I traveled to Potlatch State Park a couple summers ago. The traditional trash cans had been replaced with a pack it out policy. A trip to the restroom revealed 2 trash cans worth of trash stacked around the trash can in the restroom.
Additional state parks rants:
No soap in restrooms. People live in parks for days at a time- preparing food, hosting family reunions, etc. Soap in the restrooms is the way to go.
10 day temporary Discover Pass (provided as a receipt for online purchase) displays all drivers license info- to be seen by the general public when placed on your dash?
Why must this personal info be displayed on a temporary parking pass?
