In article ,
James Collings wrote:

The request for a clean-up comes because the sewage covered the whole patio
area upto the back door and our daughter (3yo) play house. I didn't want
her going out into it... but with Snow imminent she was going to want to be
out there building snowmen etc... (and you don't want to be rolling up a
snowman and find out that he has "ready made" buttons, eyes, and nose!!!!).
So the clean up was required.

I agree that it is a bit distasteful! An immediately cleanup would
certainly help with that, but even a short period of warm, wet weather
will have started most of the sewage breaking down.

Secondly I was concerned about the "burning" issue on the plants. Composted
materials (old manure, waste from a septic tank etc) I know is excellent on
plants.. but in its "raw" form (still recognisable!) I wondered if it might
be a bit "strong". I am heartened by your answers so far. Normally I too
wouldn't be bothered about a clean-up (being only 1 generation from
farmers!) but with our little one I wanted to be safe for her... hence the
question that the detergents will be harmful to the plants... I guess (based
on the replies), that it might be, but that it is a risk I will have to
take.

Also be a bit careful with regard to your daughter. That sort of
detergent can be both corrosive (i.e. it might cause permanent
blindness if it gets in her eyes) and fairly toxic. It depends what
they use. For comparison, typical washing up liquid is quite safe
as shampoo or even drunk in small quantities, but machine washing
powder/liquid is not.

In your position, I might (or might not) get some of the garden
cleaned up (or might do it myself), but would definitely not allow
industrial detergents to be used. That might be prejudice, but I
don't like that sort of thing.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679