BRIEF: Car wash cited for dumping chemicals

STRATFORD, Mar 25, 2008 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- The manager of a Barnum Avenue car wash was arrested after police said he dumped chemicals into a stream next to Stratford High School.

Albert Rivera, 38, of Tremont Avenue, Bridgeport, was charged with discharging without a permit. He was released after posting $500 bond.

Police and fire personnel, along with the state Department of Environmental Protection Emergency Response Team, were called Saturday to the Posh Car Wash, 1189 Barnum Ave., to investigate a complaint about a chemical spill.

When officers arrived at the scene, they said they saw a green liquid being pumped into a storm drain leading to a stream. Officers said they also saw the stream, Bruce Brook, was contaminated with the liquid.

Police said Rivera told them the car wash's discharge into the town's sewer system was clogged so he rigged up a pump to divert the chemical flow to the storm drain.

The chemicals discharged into the stream included foam protectants and a drying agent from the car-washing process. Police said warnings on the drying agent specifically cautioned that the chemical should be prevented from getting into waterways.

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