Power Washing And The Environment

by Robert M. Hinderliter

Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort Worth

Environmental Power Washing is pressure washing with "no off-property discharge" and discharging your wash water to the sanitary sewer, not just mobile pressure washing on a portable vinyl wash pit. It should be noted that "no off-property discharge" means above ground and below ground, and discharging to sanitary sewer means any place that is properly approved to receive your wash water. The most common discharge location is municipal sanitary sewer systems (or POTW: Public Owned Treatment Works). The preferred entry point is a sand trap, or grease trap. Many other municipalities are also allowing other points of entry such as slop sinks, mop sinks, sanitary sewer clean outs, commodes, inside floor drains, etc.

Water management is as important as the pressure washing itself. The Pressure Wash Contractor must capture, control, and clean wash water. Because washing with a recycling system on a portable vinyl wash pad is the most expensive way to wash an item, this needs to be the option of last resort.

This is because recycle systems do not remove the total dissolved solids, heavy metals, detergents, herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides. Hence, the longer you wash with recycled water, the harder it is to get something clean, and you have to rinse with fresh water. The same is true of washing on a portable vinyl washing pit. Articles have to be moved to the wash pit. Often times, washing items in place then capturing the wash water is a less expensive option.

Many municipalities will now accept wash water with minimum pretreatment. This is because the impact of the wash water from contract cleaners on the POTW (sewer treatment) is insignificant. It should be noted that each municipality has the authority to determine what is acceptable within its city limits, and each one will probably have a different set of Environmental Pressure Washing Guidelines. Be sure to inquire.

Common water control devices are: recycling systems; pretreatment or sewer discharge systems; limited recycling systems; wash pits (portable vinyl wash pads); vacuum sludge filtering systems; wet-dry vacuums; sump pumps; drain covers; portable dams; vacu-booms; oil absorbent pads, booms, pillows and tubes; plastic sheeting; filter tubs; buckets; pans; and squeegees. Sometimes, you will just use the terrain and natural drainage to control the water flow and catch the water at a low spot to accomplish "no off-property discharge". Sometimes this can be as simple as using a wet-dry vacuum and vacuuming up the water before off property discharge. Do not forget about evaporation. A lot of contractors have used evaporation effectively enough that they can wash for several hours and only have to recover less than 55 gallons of wash water. This has been done mostly by letting wash water make long runs across concrete then capturing the water just before it leaves the property. After the washing is finished, they clean up the concrete. "No off property discharge" has been achieved and the wash water has been discharged to sanitary sewer. Environmental guidelines have been met.

Note that in most locations if the wash water does not exit the property it does not enter the jurisdiction of the regulating authorities. For more information, see "Environmental Mobile Power Washing, Reality of Enforcement" on the Internet at: www.dcs1.com/del/delpg5/rept507.html

DELCO CLEANING SYSTEMS

1-800-433-2113

2513 Warfield St.

Fort Worth, TX 76106

e-mail: delco@dcs1.com

www.dcs1.com

Cleaning For Health Program Scheduled

Reducing levels of indoor pollutants and removing environmental triggers for allergies and asthma are the focus of a symposium scheduled for October 15-17, 1998 in Seattle, Washington. Research shows that measurable improvements can result from improved cleaning products and methods.

To achieve cleaning that is more effective, yet still affordable and practical, the program combines the perspectives of building owners and managers, the cleaning industry, and environmental health professionals. One session is dedicated to cleaning for children's environments including schools, day care centers and homes.

Seventeen speakers from three countries, representing business, government and professional associations, will make presentations, answer audience questions and participate in interactive panel discussions. Scandinavian countries, widely regarded as being more advanced in cleaning research and application, will be represented by Dr. Peter Vinzents, a senior scientist who directs a multidisciplinary cleaning research program at the Danish National Institute of Occupational Health.

Sixteen organizations are sponsoring the program, which is organized by the MidAtlantic Environmental Hygiene Resource Center (MEHRC), an award-winning nonprofit indoor environmental quality training organization based in Philadelphia. For information, call: 215-387-4096