Hotwaterwizard
Hotsy Service Tech
Water Reclaim
Water Reclaim is becoming more necessary for mobile washers. The EPA and local authorities are cracking down on storm drain discharge. There is absolutely no tolerance for runoff water from pressure washing going down the storm drain. So how do we deal with this problem? You could just ignore the problem and hope you don’t get caught, or you can deal with it. There are different ways to deal with this problem.
(1) Pick up the water and transport it to a hazardous waste site.
(2) Pick up the water and put it down the sewer.
(3) Pick up the water run it thru some filters then put it down the sewer.
(4) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system then down the sewer.
(5) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system and reuse the water.
There are probably many more ways to deal with it but these are the ways we will talk about here.
First we will talk about how we can pick up the water.
A submersible pump can be used. Just block off the storm drain so no water can go down it and put the pump in the puddle that forms around the drain.
(1) A wet dry Shop-Vac with pump-out feature can be used.
(2) A wet dry Shop-Vac with a submersible pump inside of it can be used.
(3) A Vacu-Boom System. This system has a boom that is attached to a high volume Shop-Vac with a submersible pump inside.
(4) A commercial Capture tool like the Steal Eagle Furry 2400 or The Clean-N-Capture by Alkota Cleaning Systems can be used.
Now that we have picked up the water what do we do with the stuff?
(1) Pick up the water and transport it to a hazardous waste site.
This method is very expensive and you have to have a permit to haul hazardous materials over the road.
(2) Pick up the water and put it down the sewer.
This method is a lot cheaper but you have to make sure the oil is separated first and most Cities want the water tested first and some want you to get a permit as well. This method is not legal in most locations.
(3) Pick up the water run it thru some filters then put it down the sewer.
This method is better than the method described above but the same rules apply.
(4) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system then down the sewer.
This method is the best and most expensive way. It is also the most legal way. You may still need a permit but it will be a lot easier to obtain.
(5) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system and reuse the water. This method is a great concept but you will tear up your pressure washer in the long run with the gray water going thru your pump.
Reclaiming your water is not only smart but it is good for the environment as well. If you recover this dirty water you can also get more money for the job. We may all be forced to wash this way in the near future. If you start getting the components now one at a time it won’t be such a drain on your wallet all at once as the laws change. Most of the smaller companies will be forced to comply or go out of business like all of those Mom and Pop gas stations did when they changed the laws concerning underground Fuel Tanks. If they could not afford to comply they were shut down permanently.
John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Hotwaterwizard@aol.com
Water Reclaim is becoming more necessary for mobile washers. The EPA and local authorities are cracking down on storm drain discharge. There is absolutely no tolerance for runoff water from pressure washing going down the storm drain. So how do we deal with this problem? You could just ignore the problem and hope you don’t get caught, or you can deal with it. There are different ways to deal with this problem.
(1) Pick up the water and transport it to a hazardous waste site.
(2) Pick up the water and put it down the sewer.
(3) Pick up the water run it thru some filters then put it down the sewer.
(4) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system then down the sewer.
(5) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system and reuse the water.
There are probably many more ways to deal with it but these are the ways we will talk about here.
First we will talk about how we can pick up the water.
A submersible pump can be used. Just block off the storm drain so no water can go down it and put the pump in the puddle that forms around the drain.
(1) A wet dry Shop-Vac with pump-out feature can be used.
(2) A wet dry Shop-Vac with a submersible pump inside of it can be used.
(3) A Vacu-Boom System. This system has a boom that is attached to a high volume Shop-Vac with a submersible pump inside.
(4) A commercial Capture tool like the Steal Eagle Furry 2400 or The Clean-N-Capture by Alkota Cleaning Systems can be used.
Now that we have picked up the water what do we do with the stuff?
(1) Pick up the water and transport it to a hazardous waste site.
This method is very expensive and you have to have a permit to haul hazardous materials over the road.
(2) Pick up the water and put it down the sewer.
This method is a lot cheaper but you have to make sure the oil is separated first and most Cities want the water tested first and some want you to get a permit as well. This method is not legal in most locations.
(3) Pick up the water run it thru some filters then put it down the sewer.
This method is better than the method described above but the same rules apply.
(4) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system then down the sewer.
This method is the best and most expensive way. It is also the most legal way. You may still need a permit but it will be a lot easier to obtain.
(5) Pick up the water run it thru a Water Reclaim system and reuse the water. This method is a great concept but you will tear up your pressure washer in the long run with the gray water going thru your pump.
Reclaiming your water is not only smart but it is good for the environment as well. If you recover this dirty water you can also get more money for the job. We may all be forced to wash this way in the near future. If you start getting the components now one at a time it won’t be such a drain on your wallet all at once as the laws change. Most of the smaller companies will be forced to comply or go out of business like all of those Mom and Pop gas stations did when they changed the laws concerning underground Fuel Tanks. If they could not afford to comply they were shut down permanently.
John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Hotwaterwizard@aol.com
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