Trisodium Phosphate and Ponds

[rlk]

In order to prep our house for painting, the painter wants to power wash the house using a Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution.

Since I have a pond behind the house where some of the TSP will drain during the next rain, I'm wondering if TSP is harmful to fish or plant life.

I did a google search and did not find anything alarming, other than a recommendation to thoroughly soak plant leaves prior to them being exposed to TSP.

Anyone have experience with TSP and ponds?

Thanks, Bob

 

[SteelDust]

Phosphates in any body of water can contribute to an algae bloom.

 

[EddieWalker]

how big is the pond? It's extremly unlikely that enough will get to the water to cause any harm. You can dump a gallon of gasoline in a small pond and nothing will happen. One acre foot of water is something like 345,000 gallons. It takes an aweful lot of stuff to be dangerous, and usually over an extended period of time.

I wouldn't worry about it, even though I don't know what it is. One thing I would worry about is power washing a house. What type of siding is on the house? Wood is never a good idea to powerwash as it will absorb water and take weeks or longer to dry out.

This old house had show that demonstrated how bad it was to do this on wood sided homes. They washed it, then cut it open and showed how the water got up into the wood and behind it into the wall cavities.

I know lots of people do it, but I wouldn't.

Eddie

 

[MarkV]

I am with Eddie and think the amount of diluted TSP that would make it to the pond to be insignificant. TSP is frequently used for paint prep without killing shrubs or grass that are directly exposed to it.

MarkV

 

[JimWalch]

I would be more worried about the lead in the old paint getting in the pond and ground water!

 

[SPIKER]

TSP is Ok for most plant life, (reason for alge bloom) is it is a fertilizer of types. it does work well and will help the paint to stick a lot better and will be a better result for you.....

MarkM