Why is it Wrong to Pour Used Motor Oil on the Ground?
When used motor oil is poured on the ground, not only does it kill the plants it is poured on, it also seeps down through the soil and can end up in the groundwater. The City of Santa Monica used to get 70% its water from local wells until this past year when these wells became contaminated. Santa Monica wells have been polluted by a gasoline additive (MTBE) which has seeped into the ground from various underground gasoline pipelines and storage tanks. The city now gets only 30% of its water from local wells and 70% from the Colorado River, which is four times as expensive as the local well water. This translates into higher water bills for Santa Monica residents.
