4 ms·

Aren’t phosphates a critical component of fertilizer? I’d think that’d be a far larger source of runoff than dishwashers.

krisroadruck 4y ago
You only throw fertilizer down on the lawn a couple times a year if at all and of course most of it is taken up by the plants you are feeding it to, whereas most people wash their dishes at least once a day and all of that water ends up down the drain.
- bradleyjg 4y ago
  What about industrial agriculture?
  - krisroadruck 4y ago
    That's a whole other animal. I mean why is California always dealing with water shortages but still growing almonds? My comments here are talking about residential stuff. I think I mentioned above that commercial detergents also still have phosphates. The whole 2 sets of rules thing is pretty common in the US shrug
    - bradleyjg 4y ago
      Well but this is my point. I don’t know the ratios resident/industrial for phosphates, it was an honest question. But for water, I do know the numbers. Indoor residential use isn’t even a rounding error. So why are Californians taking crappy showers with low flow showers when it doesn’t even make any difference? If we really want to solve these problems and not just feel good about ourselves we should have a different set of policies.
      - krisroadruck 4y ago
        I think we are kind of on the same side of this particular argument :-)
jcampbell1 4y ago
Removing phosphates from dishwasher detergent was stupid because phosphates are measured in the discharge water from the waste treatment plants where it is regulated, and they can be dealt with chemically. All removing phosphates did was save a tiny amount of money on water treatment. Zero effect on the environment. Total greenwashing like plastic wish-cycling. If you want zero effort spotless dishes, just mix STPP in a 1:4 ratio with cheap powdered detergent. https://www.amazon.com/Sodium-Tripolyphosphate-Super-Cleans-Grade/dp/B01JDX5ASQ/ https://www.amazon.com/Sodium-Tripolyphosphate-Super-Cleans-...

krisroadruck 4y ago

You only throw fertilizer down on the lawn a couple times a year if at all and of course most of it is taken up by the plants you are feeding it to, whereas most people wash their dishes at least once a day and all of that water ends up down the drain.

bradleyjg 4y ago
What about industrial agriculture?
- krisroadruck 4y ago
  That's a whole other animal. I mean why is California always dealing with water shortages but still growing almonds? My comments here are talking about residential stuff. I think I mentioned above that commercial detergents also still have phosphates. The whole 2 sets of rules thing is pretty common in the US shrug
  - bradleyjg 4y ago
    Well but this is my point. I don’t know the ratios resident/industrial for phosphates, it was an honest question. But for water, I do know the numbers. Indoor residential use isn’t even a rounding error. So why are Californians taking crappy showers with low flow showers when it doesn’t even make any difference? If we really want to solve these problems and not just feel good about ourselves we should have a different set of policies.
    - krisroadruck 4y ago
      I think we are kind of on the same side of this particular argument :-)

jcampbell1 4y ago

Removing phosphates from dishwasher detergent was stupid because phosphates are measured in the discharge water from the waste treatment plants where it is regulated, and they can be dealt with chemically. All removing phosphates did was save a tiny amount of money on water treatment. Zero effect on the environment. Total greenwashing like plastic wish-cycling. If you want zero effort spotless dishes, just mix STPP in a 1:4 ratio with cheap powdered detergent. https://www.amazon.com/Sodium-Tripolyphosphate-Super-Cleans-Grade/dp/B01JDX5ASQ/ https://www.amazon.com/Sodium-Tripolyphosphate-Super-Cleans-...