Federal rule bans resid. washing

Lest anyone think this isn't anything to worry about, remember what we thought about automobile pollution contols, OSHA, heck even income tax was just a temporary thing.
Note that it covers basement water (sump pumps), and rain gutters as well. We can't even complain that they are pickng on just the car washing.
I do think the fact that it can be redirected to lawns will help. I'm sure there will be several types of dams available in short order.

Keep in mind that this has been a problem for Professional Mobile Detailers for some time. I think they even have to recapture the water and can't even redirect it to a grassy area.

Charles
 
They can kiss my a$$. They'll have to arrest me before I stop washing my car. Who really gives a sh*t where the water that goes in the sewer comes from?
 
TheSopranos16 said:
They can kiss my a$$. They'll have to arrest me before I stop washing my car. Who really gives a sh*t where the water that goes in the sewer comes from?
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While your feeling is quite natural, keep in mind that they very possibly may arrest you and fine you. This isn't a local stute that you have any control of.
Plus, we all care where the water that goes in the storm sewers comes from. Unlike the sanitary sewer system, the storm sewer may very well go directly into a stream or river.
Hey, stay cool. There will no doubt be some ways to either work with the regulation or work around the regulation.

Charles
 
Sounds like we all ought to stock up on QEW in 55 gallon drums and ( for those with garages) wash inside/in the dead of the night :( Come on now, what's next ? Not being able to wash your floors and showers in your house?? Where does it end?
 
Bill D said:
Come on now, what's next ? Not being able to wash your floors and showers in your house?? Where does it end?
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Like all of you, I'm not at all happy about this happening, but keep in mind this applies to storm sewer runoff, not sanitary sewer.
If you have a way to drain your wash water into the sanitary sewer where the sewage plant will treat it, no problem. It is unlikely that anything in your house drains into a storm sewer so it shouldn't change your shower, laundry, or dishwashing routine.
It will no doubt be a real PIA, but I still think some type of a dam arrangement to divert the runoff into the grassy areas can be made to work.
As I said earlier, Pro Mobile guys have been having to work with some type of reclaim system for quite a while.
I really don't think the regulation is new, I think they have decided to enforce it.

Charles
 
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Bill D said:
Sounds like we all ought to stock up on QEW in 55 gallon drums
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QEW and Poorboy's Spray & Wipe could be a very good alternative for many bucket washes. I actually bucket wash about 1/2 as often as I used to. Still clean the vehicles whenever they are dirty, but it is quite often with S&W rather than the bucket and hose.

Charles
 
This is happening in my back yard . I'm a few towns over. This is going to be a hard law to enforce, hell they can't even enforce the laws already on the books. This should get interesting
 
rollman said:
This is happening in my back yard . I'm a few towns over. This is going to be a hard law to enforce, hell they can't even enforce the laws already on the books. This should get interesting
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One thing that concerns me about the enforcement is the possibility of this becoming a revenue generator for some areas.
Due to a shortage of operating funds, several smaller cities in our area have take to putting up speed traps, (IMO), on major interstate highways, 80 and 35 for instance. This seems to me to be nothing but a way to supplement those ailing budgets.
They might see this wash water thing as another way to get some money out of people.

Charles
 
Hmm..yeah S&W as well, and I could legally get rid of the QEW waste in the sanitary sewer

Feeling a little relieved now ;)
 
I think that something like this would be really hard to enforce... and if it was, there would be a lot of cheap ways for us to get around it. QEW and S&W are two of them. You could even make your own water reclaim kits. There have been a few posts on here about that.

I will agree that something like this really sounds bad to us but there will still be legal ways around it... so as long as we dont have to go to the car wash, I wouldnt worry. lol
 
Ok I will bit on this one. That would be darn hard to enforce. SSEA (storm sewer enforcement agency) would have to be on every corner. Ok water runoff from roofs--what if gutters drain to hard surface? Relocate them, what about a small commercial building with black top all the way around? Ok how about this situation, what if their are no storm sewers on the street. Not all streets are improved. Is it ok to let the water run to the street, then evaporate it to the air and fall back on mother earth by rain? More money pissed away on poor legislation. I can understand trying to control run off, but we need look for bigger sources of run off. The volume of people that wash there cars as versus using a car wash is small (my opionion). Adding clean water to a lake doesn't hurt. Adding oil and other contaiments is where the problem lies. If they want to do anything then filter the water before it hits the lakes and streams. Would that be expensive--YES. You can't control what runs off from the streets, if oil and tar are on the street it will end up in the storm sewer. The guy washing the vehicle down the street will not polute the lakes more then what is already on the road.
 
In honor of Charlton Heston ...

They will have to take my pressure washer wand from my cold stiff fingers !!!!
 
No doubt about the pollutants from the streets themselves being a lot worse than anything that I wash off my vehicles.
Look at some of the oil and transmission fluid leakers that leave the big puddles whereever they park. It not only will wash off from those parking areas, that same leaker is leaving a trail of it everywhere it goes. How about the blacktop patch and sealers that the road crews use. That stuff is pretty nasty looking as well.
But...., the regulation is obviously aimed at the resicential car washers. Is this sponsored by the commercial car wash associations to stop people from washing their cars at home?:dunno

Clean Dean, they don't want your pressure washer wand from your cold stiff fingers, they want that money from your wallet.

Charles
 
Still confused and probably will be all my life. Followed the link to the EPA's website. Went to the NPS article (need to be able to read foreign language). Did a search on the article for car washing--hmmmmm nothing. So did a search on car --still nothing. Did a search on washing--still nothing. Did a search on grant--hmmmmmmmm a lot of hits. Grants to states that one came up a fair amount. Now we know what is driving it. State Aid. So I am thinking to myself, what does this have to do with car washing. So I went to FAQ. Ah--now we are getting some where this is from the EPA'S website.

Q: What is nonpoint source pollution?



A: Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:

Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;

Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;

Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;

Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines;

Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septicsystems;

Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution.

No where does it mention car washing, however it does talk about runoff. This part is also from EPA's website.

Q: What can we do about nonpoint source pollution?



A: We can all work together to reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. Some activities are federal responsibilities, such as ensuring that federal lands are properly managed to reduce soil erosion. Some are state responsibilities, for example, developing legislation to govern mining and logging, and to protect groundwater. Others are best handled locally, such as by zoning or erosion control ordinances. And each individual can play an important role by practicing conservation and by changing certain everyday habits.


So now I am really confused--Why is a state proposing to implent legislation on this order, of course state aid. Makes them look and feel good. Then I looked at the link a commerical car wash site-hmmmm you never see water in front of them at the street. Kiss my grits!!!! Is it more business for them if they can stop the average joe or small business. You bet. I say if this happens or goes into effect, we all get out our little digital cameras and photo the car washing sites. Of course you will want to get the river of water coming from there business out into the storm sewer. Bonus if you can get your representive in the picture at the car wash with his BMW.
 
Our current administration hasn't exactly had a glowing record in regards to the environment. I don't really see this law taking off for the average joe. Some car wash places may need to come up with water recovery solutions, but the driveway guy doesn't have anything to worry about. The way my house was built way back when, all of my gutters and possily even my basement drain into the storm sewer. I'm not about to alter that.

Really, it isn't anything to get worked up over.
 
"Lest anyone think..."

Stern Fan Charles?

CharlesW said:
Lest anyone think this isn't anything to worry about, remember what we thought about automobile pollution contols, OSHA, heck even income tax was just a temporary thing.
Note that it covers basement water (sump pumps), and rain gutters as well. We can't even complain that they are pickng on just the car washing.
I do think the fact that it can be redirected to lawns will help. I'm sure there will be several types of dams available in short order.

Keep in mind that this has been a problem for Professional Mobile Detailers for some time. I think they even have to recapture the water and can't even redirect it to a grassy area.

Charles
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Is this sponsored by the commercial car wash associations to stop people from washing their cars at home?
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Yes, Charles, this has been one of my longstanding "conspiracy" theories.

However, as a pro mobile tech myself, I've decided to invest in a reclaim system. They way I look at it, it's a marketing tool as well. Push environmental awareness, charge a few more bucks, wash anywhere, possibly obtain accounts (city, county vehicles) that would require the use of reclaimed water.

When life gives you limes, make margaritas, right?:lmfao

I live in SW Florida, and environmental issues, especially where water is concerned, are high on everyone's list of priorities. Of over 35 other mobile detailers in my county, only 2 I know of are using reclaim.

Regards,
 
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