Last Modified: June 16, 1998
The following information was provided by:
Judy Schaefer
Technical Assistance Section
MDEQ Environmental
Assistance Division
PO Box 30457
Lansing MI 48909-7957
Phone:
517-373-0590, FAX 517-373-3675
email:
schaefj2@state.mi.us
Environmental Assistance Center 800-662-9278
Michigan does have regulations which pertain to power washing. Two divisions within the Department of Environmental Quality may have jurisdiction. If the discharge was to go onto the ground and be a groundwater discharge, then the Waste Management Division has oversight. If the discharge goes into surface waters, then the Surface Water Quality Division has oversight. In addition, if the discharge was to flow into a municipal wastewater treatment system, then there would be local sewer authority oversight.
Currently, the Department does not have any fact sheets developed which specifically addresses all the requirements for power washers. Since there are many factors which vary between power washing operations, it is not possible to identify all the specific requirements a company may have to follow in a general publication, so it is recommended that a company contact the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) district office staff regarding their particular circumstances. These factors include, but are not limited to, what a company proposes to do, whether or not additives are used, where the discharge may occur, and what the volume of the discharge will be.
Go to the Waste Management Division Groundwater Section's home page at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/wmd/sections/gwpshome.html for links to the groundwater program's documents and the applicable portions of the state's Water Resources Protection statute and administrative rules. The documents include the permit exemptions for "Discharges from Mobile Power Washers" and "Discharges of Wash water without Additives", and the "Generic Exemption Notification Form".
If someone is proposing to have a groundwater discharge, they should discuss the specific requirements with the Waste Management Division's district office staff for their area. A map of the state and the district boundaries and staff directory is available through the Waste Management Division's home page at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/wmd/districts/district.html
The Surface Water Quality Division does not have any documents that are specific to power washing. It is recommended that if a company proposes to discharge to any surface water that they contact that division's staff at their district office. Phone numbers for the Surface Water Quality Division district offices can be found at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/swq and then click on "Programs" for the list. Regulations overseen by the Surface Water Quality Division regarding Water Resources Protection can be linked to by clicking on "FTP".
Questions about discharging wash water to a wastewater treatment plant should be directed to the local sewer authority.
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