California Water restrictions

jtemple0622

New member
Just watching this story develop out in California about the water restrictions going into effect Aug 1st. They didn't directly mention pressure washing but did say you can get fined for rinsing off driveways and sidewalks. Does this apply to property owners only? It will be interesting to see if the calls for residential dry up. Customers might be scared to have there house washed with fear of a fine???? Whats your input on this California guys?
 
I would contact your city and see what they say, these days you just never know, it would suck to get a fine for just washing a house, even if you had reclaim in place.
 
Northern California- San Francisco Bay Area.

Residential will "Dry up" no pun intended. Commercial its a health and safety issue, so as far as I know we keep cleaning commercial. Filthy sidewalks and store fronts are still a legit reason to use water. We are also filling up our tanks at a water recycling facility at a local water district. The water is reclaimed and useable for pressure washing and cleaning livestock etc.... Non drinkable but can be used for pressure washing.

Many cities will ticket for any residential unnecessary water usage, the new "Green" is a Golden lawn. The wealthier neighborhoods get a kick out of having a dead lawn, shows how much they are helping during the drought restrictions.
 
I got two answers when I called the public works dept. One said yes they will fine me for washing residential concrete but not commercial. Other rep said only gross wasters get a ticket. It's a desert in terms of rain fall this year. Some counties here can't water their lawn period. Or their faucets have NO water that drips out... I clean hoods mainly... I'm nervous to even let water run down the roofs drainage from the gutters while washing the fans.. it's getting bad here.. People even stop and look at you Akward if they see you hosing down the gas station diesel spills at night...
 
After a 9hr job... I was trying to get some rest this morning when a representative of the water conservation board here in town knocked on my door. He explained the current situation of the water crisis here and the effects of people with highly manicured lawns can have on the water table. Mind you this is 8:05am... normal business hours so I didnt immediately ask him to leave a card.. hah but yeah. I was lectured for a good 10 minuets, even got a tour of my OWN front lawn and shown all the problems with my watering habits... I politely asked him to give me a second to bring him something... I pulled out my last 5 months statements which I have scribbled down some hardly comprehendable math which showed my over all water usage dropping each month... then intentionally interrupting him when he would try and speak to continue handing his ass back to him.

I also let him know that my lawn is a extremely well manicured desert grass.. buffalo..one of the ONLY grass types that grows naturally in my town.. its also the only approved drought variety here. I then asked him to look at my lush backyard which consists of a a few small rocks and a WIDE SWATH of dry dirt. No weeds growing, no grass, no plants.. its a ugly ass barren landscape void of all greenery that would require water aside from 20 or so very tall cypress trees that get water ONCE a month. I insisted I waste enough water with my job that simply because I live in a area of medium levels of income does not mean that we are to be subjected to un-needed re-education about our own personal properties if where following the rules. I simply choose to keep my front looking nice and proper so driving down the block you dont assume the house is abandoned. What sorta pist me off more was the fact he was apologizing for his incorrect assumptions he made about my potential water usage just because the color of my lawn, the citation is $500 bucks cold and cruel with no real course to take to object this fee.. YOU DONT PAY THE FEE THAT SAME MONTH, THEY WILL SHUT OFF YOUR WATER ON DAY 1 OF THE NEW CYCLE. I wonder how long people survive in the 105degree heat with no water.

The terrible part is, my meager home is 2 blocks away from a prestigious portion of town known for its large homes with MASSIVE landscapes requiring constant irrigation,, the public works person had a map of homes he needed to visit to educate the people or fine them! Not one of these homes where in an area I would consider.. lavish or upper-end. What a shame. this guy even had the nerve to remind me to report my neighbors for water wasting. I cant believe my city has these un-trained men going around potentially ruining some familys summer with a $500 fee to be paid pretty much immediately or loose your life line water. WOW..

Now im going back to looking at this higher gpm machine Mr.Wilson showed me yesterday, so you know.. I can waste water at 5.6gpm lol =) Water Dragons / Pressure Pro skid looking mighty attractive to me...
 
The city of Fresno water conservation program had a both at the home show today.
I stopped and had a quick chat with them. I told them who I was and what I do for a living. I asked if there are any new restrictions on mobile cleaners.
As of now we are good to go as usual.
Any home owner or place of business seen using a water hose to clean driveways, sidewalks, houses or building will no doubt receive a fine.
Anyone washing a car without an automatic shutoff device will get a ticket. Anyone watering there landscaping on there scheduled off days will get a ticket.
They actually are encouraging the use of a pressure washer for any exterior cleaning. He in fact told me pressure washing uses less water to clean than any other method.
He said the governor will be having a press conference Tuesday about this subject. And he wasn't sure if there will be any changes Tuesday.


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Disneyland went to the state and raised heck with them telling them that the park has to be washed down every night. The state wanted to ban all pressure washing at first until Disneyland stepped in.

Like Chris said though with the water restrictions you can only water your lawn every other day. Pressure washers with the right reclaim equipment can make $$$$ with the idea I have because of this though. I will post my idea in Alfa Gama Wash section later tonight.
 
From Paul Horsley's FB page -
PWNA Lobbies for Pressure Washing Contractors Facing California’s New Water Restrictions
On July 15, California’s State Water Control Board, voted to allow fines of up to $500 per day for residents caught wasting water outdoors. PWNA was the only power washing organization in attendance at the Water Control Board Meeting, and PWNA Board Member Jim Gamble lobbied before the water board on behalf of all power washing contractors.
The Water Control Board’s decision was due to California’s severe drought and the failure of voluntary efforts to achieve the desired water conservation results set by California Governor Jerry Brown. The new program prohibits residents from over watering their lawns and landscaping (to the point it causes runoff onto the sidewalks and/or streets), as well as the washing of sidewalks, driveways and other surfaces. Residents also cannot wash their vehicles with a hose unless it has a shutoff nozzle, and the use of fountains is prohibited unless the water is recirculated.
Gamble, who owns Crystal Cleaning Company in Sacramento, attended the Water Control Board meeting on behalf of the PWNA to gather information and to lobby for cleaning contractors’ businesses. Gamble was given a three-minute time slot to voice how the new regulations could negatively impact both the industry and the health, safety and welfare of all Californians.
Afterward, Gamble was interviewed by several news agencies. “Have you ever looked on the cement and seen all the gum, soda stains, urine and even bird feces? We won’t be able to clean that up if this goes into effect,” he explained in one television report. He continued, “If I can’t get access to water, I can’t pressure wash. I won’t be able to put food on the table for my children.”
The new regulations will allow pressure washing for certain “health and safety” issues, which will likely include all commercial and public properties. What is less clear is how this will impact professional contractors who serve residential clients.
The PWNA has begun seeking legal guidance to prepare a defense should California contract cleaners be cited for using a pressure washer. “The PWNA is taking these new regulations very seriously, which is why we attended and spoke up at the Water Control Board meeting on behalf of all contractors,” added PWNA President John Nearon. “We began lobbying for contractors even before the ordinance passed, and will continue to do so as long as the new regulations remain in effect.”

I feel worse for having read this act of fiction.
 
The city should go and watch contractors to see how efficient they are and if they see contractors waste huge amounts of water like using fire hoses or other similar type of hoses that use a hundred of gallons of water per minute (which is really overkill) then fine them and not let those wasteful contractors abuse the very little of water that the state has where there are contractors that do a great job of cleaning, are efficient and are not wasteful.
 
Yeah Chris , stay close to the Uamcc groups. The enviro committee is in full action on this. Carlos is the CA state rep working with the California contractors.


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Thanks Ron. Groups on Facebook?


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