How to dispose of paint water?
For a long time, I didn't think much about how to dispose of my painting water.
I simply poured it down the drain.
However, as I delved deeper into the composition of paints, my perspective changed.
Even though watercolor paints often contain only small amounts of harmful substances, we can easily minimize their environmental impact.
And some paints still contain environmentally harmful ingredients, such as cadmium and cobalt.
When it comes to watercolors, proper and eco-friendly disposal is straightforward.
Today, I'll show you how to do it right.
Why Is Proper Disposal Important?
Even though watercolor paints are generally less toxic than other painting materials, it’s still important not to pour their residues down the drain.
If you paint frequently or even teach classes, your contribution can quickly add up.
You might also work with certain colors whose environmental impact is not yet clear to you.
More information on what to look for when buying paints in the future can be found at the end of the article.
4 Steps for Environmentally Friendly Disposal of Painting Water
Important: These steps apply specifically to watercolor paints; other media may require different procedures.
Please research the appropriate methods for other painting media.
Here are 4 simple steps to dispose of your painting water in an eco-friendly way:
1. Let Pigments Settle
You've probably noticed that when you leave your painting water standing for a while, the color particles gradually settle at the bottom.
This is exactly what we want.
You have two options to achieve this:
Either use a new glass for fresh water and let the old one sit until the water and pigments separate.
Or you use a larger container for the settling process, into which you carefully pour your used painting water each time you change it. This is essentially a storage option for used water.
Note: When pouring the water, do it slowly to avoid stirring up the settled pigments.
2. Carefully Pour Out the Water
Once the pigments have well separated from the water, carefully pour the water into the sink without disturbing the pigments.
Wipe the remaining pigments from your container with a paper towel.
3. Disposal of the Pigments
Dispose of the paper towel with the pigments according to your local waste disposal regulations (e.g., with household trash).
There may be specific rules in your area, so please follow them.
4. Cleaning the Container
Wiping out the container may not make it completely particle-free, but you will have removed most of the harmful substances.
Rinse the container or glass briefly to remove any remaining residues.
Done!
Alternative Method
If you want to take an extra step: I’ve read about the possibility of filtering the painting water through a coffee filter.
I haven't tried this method myself, but it could be another option to remove the pigments from the water.
Let me know if this method works if you give it a try!
Additional Information on the Toxicity of Watercolor Paints
If you want to explore the topic of watercolor paint toxicity further, I recommend checking the safety data sheets from the paint manufacturers.
You can find these either on their websites or on the website of your art supply retailer.
Another way is to look for the following certifications on the packaging of watercolor paints:
ACMI (AP): This seal is awarded by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). They have a dedicated advisory board of leading toxicology experts who review questions regarding the toxicity of art products.
More info: https://www.acmiart.org/acmi-seals
ASTM D4236: This standard from the American Society for Testing and Materials is a "Standard Practice for Labeling Art Materials for Chronic Health Hazards." This means that all potentially toxic ingredients in the paint must be clearly labeled on the packaging according to this guideline.
More info: https://www.astm.org/d4236-94r21.html
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