Reducing environmental pollution caused by construction plant

摘要

Quantifiable data in a report by the Environment Agency of England and Wales entitled Water Pollution Incidents in England and Wales 1997 identifies over 3,723 substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales in 1997. The construction industry was the most frequent polluter responsible for 22 percent of all substantiated water-related pollution incidents in the "Industry" sector. Also 28 percent of all substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales are directly attributable to mineral-based fuels and oils, many of which are used extensively within the construction industry. Seeks to locate the possible causes and effects for some of that oil-based pollution, discusses the issues and identifies a client-motivated solution to reduce and mitigate the undesirable impacts upon the environment. One particularly aggressive pollutant -- hydraulic oil -- remains annually, unaccounted for. Hydraulic oil is used in most tracked earthmoving machinery; machinery most closely associated with construction work carried out near to watercourses. Biodegradable hydraulic oil is much more considerate to the environment but is more expensive and not usually installed in new plant and machinery. Argues that on a life cycle basis the use of biodegradable oil is viable and feasible and external factors make its usage desirable.