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We recently had some work done on our house and it included painting a room. After the contractors left we discovered, through our security cams, that they had been using our backyard to clean their painting equipment, over a 3 day period. They were mostly using our nomo grass area to washout water soluble paint from brushes, rollers, pans and buckets. They would then spray down the paint until it wasn’t visible from the surface. They also left a lot of paint residue on surrounding plants and trees from flicking the brushes dry. It’s a water soluble latex paint, both matte and gloss. My question is, how bad is this for the lawn and garden?

gardendale
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3 Answers3

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A quick search indicates that latex paint can be a nasty pollutant in large quantities, but not in the small quantities you're talking about.

This site has a good discussion of paint contents and their toxicity, if any. It does not discuss contaminated soil, however.

I doubt that the amount of point in your yard is a concern because you say that the painting crew only dumped diluted paint onto the grass and then watered it in, effectively diluting it further. I would be more concerned if they had done this in a vegetable garden.

Jurp
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I did this in my backyard without thinking twice. No issues with plants.

From the theory: Latex paint is actually biodegradable and what is not biodegradable is mostly mineral content.

It is also safe to touch for humans and pets, otherwise we would not use it in the first place.

fraxinus
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This is really annoying and I feel sorry for you. It is very important to know exactly what kind of paint was used. Names and bills can help. From the names of the paints/buckets, you can find the safety data sheets (online, too). They'll explain what hazardous substances maybe mixed inside them - or mixed not into it.

For example, there are water soluble paints, that contain really long-lasting and dangerous anti-fungal substances, that can kill nearby plants. It depends on the amounts of water, color and other substances dumped there. This is all we don't know.

Also part of decision making: Where is the painted building located? Is it in a water protection area? Is it close to a municipal water plant? Can the water with the solution flow into a lake or sewage and sewage treatment plant?

There can be significant fines, if you get caught, when a jealous neighbour sneaks on you.

If you'd just think of the environment, call or sue the company to remove the contaminated soil on their money.

Semo
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