Just in from Northern California

Was talking with the EPA about the "Dry Well Systems" throughout the USA.

California has completed a long study about Dry Wells and found them to be inadequate in preventing containments from reaching the underground drinking supply. California is making it mandatory to have them removed ( Pulled Out ) from various locations throughout California.

They are being replaced with a oil water separator in ground that has to be maintained by the owner of the property. Depending on the size of the separator and the uses, the owner will have to replace the elements on a regular maintenance schedule. The old media needs to be hauled off as Class II Hazardous Waste and the media replaced. This won't be cheap!

This is important because the EPA will not allow Caustic to be used with this type of filter as the only means to remove the caustic from the cleaning process. NOTE: This type of filter will not remove caustic.

Owners are being forewarned that they are responsible as well as the end user for any pressure washing that uses the filtration system for the purpose of cleaning. ( Meaning that you have to bring your own filter. The days of using the station filtration system while you pressure wash the gas pads are over)

If California is implementing this, rest assure, it will be heading east.

California just healed a seminar about this and other pressure washing issues. They also had talks on how to start the process for issuing citations for these issues. I was told that states as far as North Carolina and Florida attended. In our county alone, they citied over $193,000 in Violations to pressure washer alone. JUST pressure washing. States and County's are strapped for cash. This is a way from them to get some extra cash.

Check with your state to see if you can use caustic without any treatment or prevention from entering into the storm water system.

Just last month, Jan '09, a pressure washer did a garage without filtration unit. He was fined over $17,000 on the first day, plus lawyer fees of $12,000, plus the county went after the owner of the garage as well. He did not get paid from the job, permit revoked and end up costing him $29,000 and some change plus lost wages and expenses. EPA figures the day cost the company in questioned about $33,000 and now has a bad rep. within the company he was doing business with and throughout the county.

Do you see why the states are interested in this venture ?
 
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Jim calling it not bad for governement days work is subjective.. Do you really want all this bs of fining people to go down? Are you drooling over it cause your well poised? Tempted to call ya a name or two if so cause when it comes down to it everyone knows the systems and infrastructures involved have never been adequate and such lack of attending to should not equate into putting business or the little man down in hurt. How about fghting for exemptions based on crappy plan of the water systems in first place?
Seriously..no offense, but much of your postings like this leave a taste of monopolization in my mouth. What can we do about correcting that? Tell me something good or hopeful I can look forward to maybe.
You probably know I am not a proponent of outright unchecked pollution but man this type of enviro mongering is putting the industry more at risk everyday. The attitude that a fine/tax/collection will fix anything of infrastructure is just unsound. Just slows things down and gets in the way prospuring enough to where things can get built. Call it Reaganomics if ya like.

btw, you seem to be implying this water seperator thing is all new. How so when they been installing them and last I heard they have deadlines already in place like 2010 or some such date.
 
Jim calling it not bad for governement days work is subjective.. Do you really want all this bs of fining people to go down? Are you drooling over it cause your well poised? Tempted to call ya a name or two if so cause when it comes down to it everyone knows the systems and infrastructures involved have never been adequate and such lack of attending to should not equate into putting business or the little man down in hurt. How about fghting for exemptions based on crappy plan of the water systems in first place?
Seriously..no offense, but much of your postings like this leave a taste of monopolization in my mouth. What can we do about correcting that? Tell me something good or hopeful I can look forward to maybe.
You probably know I am not a proponent of outright unchecked pollution but man this type of enviro mongering is putting the industry more at risk everyday. The attitude that a fine/tax/collection will fix anything of infrastructure is just unsound. Just slows things down and gets in the way prospuring enough to where things can get built. Call it Reaganomics if ya like.

btw, you seem to be implying this water seperator thing is all new. How so when they been installing them and last I heard they have deadlines already in place like 2010 or some such date.

Kevin and Russ, I agree with you 100% on the environmental overkill.

But I've spent a lot of time speaking with Jim and I've got a pretty good feel for who he is.

You can't tell much about Jim from his posts. He posts stuff like this because he genuinely thinks he's helping others by doing it, by getting them ready for what might be coming their way. I personally think what is happening in California is destined to be repeated in Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon and a few other states, but most states don't follow that tree-hugging stuff so much. (definately not Nevada and Alabama)

One thing I really like about Jim is that he follows the law BUT he doesn't insert himself into the legal process to try to get laws passed that favor his business.

Jim's a working guy just like us. I know sometimes he tries to claim his hose is bigger but that's just trying to compensate for the fact that his reclaim vacuum really sucks! :D :eek:

How about we start a new forum called tree-hugging nut news and have Jim post all about California laws in there?
 
I agree the industry is about to be regulated heavily. Just last week I spoke with a fellow washer who received calls from the Chesapeake Bay authorities, saying they had concerns from his operations.

I know that here in the DC/MD area the government is trying to collect on 1.8 million of outstanding red light tickets from 2008. And thinking of installing more speeding and red light cameras. I dont think they really want to punish anyone in the pressure washing industry but a lot of it is due to pressure from some environmental authorities, mandates, and a source of revenue.
 
Sounds like a new business venture to look into, hauling hazardous waste and maintaining the dry wells and pumping them out for replacement.

I do not have the capital and if they make it mandatory, that is a somewhat guranteed income for the company that is prepared for it.

The last time I checked, the vacuum truck D.O.T. approved tank is around $40k and then you have to buy the truck, vacuum, pumps, etc.... Still looks like a great business to be in over where they are inforcing it the most.

Just my opinion.





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Ok Russ,

I will remove the last 3 paragraphs of this link. I see how it could be a little strong, even though it is factual.

The whole purpose of this link is to let everyone know that the fines are real. The EPA is stepping up to the plate and are issuing fines to companies, where just 2 years ago, they let it slide.

Shoot, Dan called me a few weeks ago and told me about his business neighbor, who washed his car at the shop, and was fined for allowing dish washing soap run off, go down the storm drain.

Look it, I hope that everyone takes this to heart in a good way. By having the knowledge that these requirements are coming down the road, you will have the ability to start today to buy the equipment over time and do the research, so that you will be in the right place with your business when it finally hits.

The last thing that you would want as a business is to be fined, then get black listed and unprepared, both knowledgeable and financial, in order to cope with the new regulations.

So many of us pressure washers feel that it is "OK to dump" or " Those requirements are Not required in my state". The fact of the matter is...... It is coming to your state, so get ready for it. Put yourself and your company in the position to adapt to the change when it hits and not behind the 8 ball scrambling to catch up.

The ones who position themselves correctly in all of this, are the ones who will be extremely successful. The one who chose not to, will be struggling.
 
So you all don't think it is beneficial to know what California and other states are doing with regards to environmental things? That seems silly to me. I think we are all better prepared by making sure that we know what is coming our way, and working to make sure that whatever regulations are in put in place are regulations we can live with.
 
:eek:
Ok Russ,

I will remove the last 3 paragraphs of this link. I see how it could be a little strong, even though it is factual.

The whole purpose of this link is to let everyone know that the fines are real. The EPA is stepping up to the plate and are issuing fines to companies, where just 2 years ago, they let it slide.

Shoot, Dan called me a few weeks ago and told me about his business neighbor, who washed his car at the shop, and was fined for allowing dish washing soap run off, go down the storm drain.

Look it, I hope that everyone takes this to heart in a good way. By having the knowledge that these requirements are coming down the road, you will have the ability to start today to buy the equipment over time and do the research, so that you will be in the right place with your business when it finally hits.

The last thing that you would want as a business is to be fined, then get black listed and unprepared, both knowledgeable and financial, in order to cope with the new regulations.

So many of us pressure washers feel that it is "OK to dump" or " Those requirements are Not required in my state". The fact of the matter is...... It is coming to your state, so get ready for it. Put yourself and your company in the position to adapt to the change when it hits and not behind the 8 ball scrambling to catch up.

The ones who position themselves correctly in all of this, are the ones who will be extremely successful. The one who chose not to, will be struggling.


I found this picture of Jim from the AZ RT.:cool::eek: :D :p
 

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That aint Jim, too skinny and no beard. About as aesthetically challenged though.
 
So you all don't think it is beneficial to know what California and other states are doing with regards to environmental things? That seems silly to me. I think we are all better prepared by making sure that we know what is coming our way, and working to make sure that whatever regulations are in put in place are regulations we can live with.

Yep I think it is important that our industry takes a look at this!!

Jim - good speaking with you today on the phone!
 
Jim, Missed your call as I stepped out for a bid..sorry about that...

Your rewording/edit puts my post out of context but we can live with that as we're being constructive. Really Jim I don't mind the informative nature of such thread in general and I know you mean well and all. We all come across different online than in person at times. We have spoke so we both can probably say we know that true. People deserve the warnings and talk of preparedness in this thread...so all's good..
That said, injecting ones self into creating more red tape or inspiring enforcement of debatable enviromental laws by actually meeting with officials to lobby them or strategize how best to fine people or how best to install debatable enviro effects as fact is questionable practice. Is somewhat kinda like wielding a weapon upon or eating yer own if ya do that. Yes we all want a clean safe enviro but some of it is overboard which makes it situation of both friend and foe. I got to side on the side of keeping people in work and the side of accepting only reasonable change. I'll side on the side of a washer any day over that of an enviro nut or enviro nut enforcer. I consider it best to always ask what is the motivator behind something so please don;t tell me you want to be in bed wit the enviro but jobs.. :)
 
I agree with Scott and Carlos on taking a look at what we can live with... my conclusion is that many will not be living by way of the gun at all as for when it all goes down the fact remains that the greater percentage of cleanable space tends to have layout or infrastructures that can't accomodate zero tollerance coming down the pike. Is nothing but bad news for washers and the enviroment alike. Less and less space will get cleaned and it will stock pile until mother nature releases it all at once killing my fishy dinner before I've a chance to hook them.. Places can't afford to both pay for cleaning as usual along with a new water system so they won't be cleaned. Customers focus more on interior cleanliness compared to exterior just so you know... Have a look at my floor avitar above. Do you shop there because it is clean and shiny or because the crete out frnt was exceptionally new looking. They know where best to put their dollars and so it goes..
 
Now with the KOOKS we have in Congress and the Oval office, I think we are going to see more of this stuff sooner coming our way and Me being next to Calif. it will hit us faster then the east coast, so I think posting this kind of stuff is very helpful.
 
It is great that Jim is informing us about what is coming, either soon, later or much later but it is coming.

I am sure that a lot of people are not going to worry about it because they are not inforcing it in their areas like some parts here but one day it will probably be here and Jim is very passionate about trying to help us out by warning us and informing us of what is coming.

In San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, Texas they are handing out fines when you are caught and the police are giving out the fines at nite as most of the commercial parking lots are done at nite.

Jim can't make people listen, just tell them about how serious it is and that it is coming, that is all he can do but don't hate him or get upset with him for his passion about wanting to help us and let us know what is going on.





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Superior Power Washing<O:p</O:p
Chris Chappell<O:p</O:p
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prostaff@superiorpowerwashing.com
Low Pressure Roof Cleaning Corpus Christi Texas<O:p</O:p
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Now with the KOOKS we have in Congress and the Oval office, I think we are going to see more of this stuff sooner coming our way and Me being next to Calif. it will hit us faster then the east coast, so I think posting this kind of stuff is very helpful.

With the east coast housing the capitol I am sure the powers that be want to shine above and beyond.

There was a news article were a County in Maryland wanted to go after Procter and Gamble, because they have not meet the mandate for phosphates in their dish washing detergents. I think they got an extension.

Heavy enviro enforcement, "coming to a town near you........"


On another note,

The environmental issues would not just affect water reclaim and treatment in the coming days/months, mandates are in place for reducing small engine air pollution.

Believe it, authorities want better fuel economy and reduced emissions on new small engines.

I know catalytic converters is around the corner (initially 2010, but it has since been revised), but soon EFI maybe the standard.

Wish I could find the article.
 
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