Newspaper Article

:eek: My business would be down the drain.



I only do detailing on the side as a part time job, and only make around $200 a month. Basically, my detailing $ is my spending $. :)
 
this sums it up nicely...



Several years ago, the owner of a Granbury car wash requested that the city regulate mobile car washes because of concerns about pollution from wastewater runoffs from such businesses.
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I hope you guys are aware that car wash operators are banding together to not only put mobile detailers out of business but to support legislation preventing vehicle owners from washing cars at home. That's right, car wash owners do not want citizens to be able to wash their own cars in their own driveways. Reasons for this are similar to those mentioned in that article. Car wash operators are joining forces with environmental groups to bring this about. Drought conditions are helping their cause. There are state environmental dept's that are cracking down on local detailers regarding pollution and chemical runoff.



I'd hope that all you pro detailers subscribe to PC&D, check out carwash.com daily, and are aware of any local and regional associations as well as the ICA.
 
bretfraz said:
I hope you guys are aware that car wash operators are banding together to not only put mobile detailers out of business but to support legislation preventing vehicle owners from washing cars at home. That's right, car wash owners do not want citizens to be able to wash their own cars in their own driveways. Reasons for this are similar to those mentioned in that article. Car wash operators are joining forces with environmental groups to bring this about. Drought conditions are helping their cause. There are state environmental dept's that are cracking down on local detailers regarding pollution and chemical runoff.



I'd hope that all you pro detailers subscribe to PC&D, check out carwash.com daily, and are aware of any local and regional associations as well as the ICA.
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As long as it doesn't happen here within the next year then I'll be fine. I need to get my reclaim system first :)



I think maybe we need to get the general public involved in this. I think they need to know carwash operators are trying to make it so they can't wash their vehicles at home.



What is PC&D?
 
Intel486 said:
What is PC&D? [/B]
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Professional Carwashing & Detailing, a magazine for owners and operators of carwashes, C-Stores, and Detail shops.



PC&D Website



That is where I found this article. If you check out their forum you will RonK and Buda. But the forum is nothing compared to Autopia for the technical side.



Eric
 
Nagchampa said:
What a dirty tactic.
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Most likely the carwash operator in question is trying to do away with his mobile competition but there certainly is validity in regulating what is put into our water supply. Just think of how many people there are out there running half assed detail businesses with little or no knowledge of what the products they are using are composed of or how the chemicals they are using should be used. It's really scary when you see it first hand like I do.
 
ShineShop said:
Most likely the carwash operator in question is trying to do away with his mobile competition but there certainly is validity in regulating what is put into our water supply. Just think of how many people there are out there running half assed detail businesses with little or no knowledge of what the products they are using are composed of or how the chemicals they are using should be used. It's really scary when you see it first hand like I do.
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But what chemicals are mobile detailers using that are going into the water supply? I could understand them having a problem with engine degreasing without properly disposing of the runoff. But how much pollution is in carwash soap?
 
Nagchampa said:
But what chemicals are mobile detailers using that are going into the water supply? I could understand them having a problem with engine degreasing without properly disposing of the runoff. But how much pollution is in carwash soap?
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It really depends on the operator. Do you have any idea what the chemical composition of commonly sold car cleaning chemicals are? Take Westley's Whitewall Bleach for instance. This product is full of Butyls which clean like hell but are hazardous. Many detailers use products that will work but shouldn't be used because they aren't safe. I once had an employee who had his own mobile detailing business for a time who swore toilet bowl cleaner was the best thing for cleaning rims he had ever seen. You are probably starting to see my point now. If you were to dump that into the storm sewer it goes right to the water supply. For every honest detailer who adheres to laws regarding runoff from dangerous chemicals there are hundreds of boneheads who will flagrently break the law and pollute our water. I disagree with over-regulation by government but in this case I would have to say I would rather be safe than sorry.
 
Off topic, but I didn't realize there were so many detailing clay patent lawsuits going on. It appears Auto Wax (Clay Magic) has 6+ patents on detailing clay and its usage.:nixweiss
 
This concern for what is going down the stormsewers is also a concern to a group in Toronto Ontario - in an article a number of months ago they has been lobbying to totally ban people from washing their own cars in their driveways. Their claim is similiar to what is being said here - pollutates from soap, oils and grease being washed from the vehicle are going directly into the sewers bypassing water treatment and going directly into Lake Ontario - our drinking water source. Be interesting what does happen on this concern. MTS
 
But that little 1 ounce per gallon spread over 3 vehicles is a lot less source of pollution than car washes. They use a heck of a lot more soap than I do, and the discharge water is not completely treated anyway.



I like to protect our environment, but this is ridiculous. Frankly it would be a law I would disregard.



Now degreasing an engine, that's another story.
 
My soap is also biodegradeable. I think there has to be a compromise where only superior/safe products could be used.
 
mrdetailer said:
But that little 1 ounce per gallon spread over 3 vehicles is a lot less source of pollution than car washes. They use a heck of a lot more soap than I do, and the discharge water is not completely treated anyway.



I like to protect our environment, but this is ridiculous. Frankly it would be a law I would disregard.



Now degreasing an engine, that's another story.
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Most if not all tunnel washes reclaim and reuse their waste water. It is filtered and not sent into the water supply.
 
Intel486 said:
The soap I use is biodegradeable. The only thing is the stuff I'm washing off the car.
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Same here, and QEW only uses a gallon of water anyway.



Honestly, I think Grandbury should be more worried about cars that leak coolant into the streets that end up in the runoff when it rains. I think the city council has a member that either owns a free standing car wash or has a good friend who does and they have cooked up this scheme to put someone out of business who may be hurting them.



I also severely disagree with PC&D's stance on this issue. Not suprising when 97% of their magazine is devoted to the freestanding car wash operators and detailers get 3 pages an issue.
 
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