Last update: February 15, 2003
________________________________________________________________________
DELCO CLEANING SYSTEMS
March 1, 1996
TO: Environmental Regulators
........For
Municipalities over 100,000 population
Re: City of Fort Worth Cosmetic
Cleaning Ordinance Passed City Council
Dear Environmental Regulators:
The NPDES Stormwater Permit from the EPA for cities over 100,000 population requires cities to create and enforce an ordinance which bans pollutant discharge to the storm drain. The City of Fort Worth is typical for the majority of American Cities in that detergent is the most frequently encountered pollutant. Mobile Cosmetic Cleaners being the major source of this pollution.
During 1995 the City of Fort Worth in an effort to establish a Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance held a public comment period which included a Mobile Power Washing Environmental Protection and Compliance Conference on July 17, 1995. This conference was attended by about 40 Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Municipal, State, and EPA Regulators and 100 Contract Cleaners and Industry representatives.
The City of Fort Worth Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance
was passed by the City Council taking into consideration the comments made by
all parties at the above conference and went into effect January 1, 1996. This
Ordinance includes an automatic discharge permit for Cosmetic Cleaners to the
Sanitary Sewer.
Please find enclosed:
1) Letter From Brian Camp, Jr., Senior Environmental Quality Specialists to Robert M. Hinderliter stating how the ordinance was developed.
2) Division 2, Cosmetic Cleaning, of the Fort Worth Environmental Ordinance.
3) The application from the City of Fort Worth for Cosmetic Cleaners to obtain their permits.
4) City of Fort Worth Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance Fact Sheet
This information is being provided to all Cities over 100,000 population to help them develop a uniform ordinance for Cosmetic Cleaners. As discussed at the July 17, 1995 Conference, there was no reason to have an infinite number of different interpretations of the Clean Water Act. A commitment was made by all Government Attendees to try and develop a single interpretation of the Clean Water Act for local enforcement.
The Fort Worth Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance is a good ordinance acceptable for all parties.
For your reference the following phone numbers are provided for City Of Fort Worth Personnel:
Brian Camp, Jr.,: Senior Water Quality
Specialists………….……817-871-5458
Kathryn A.
Hansen, Assistant City
Attorney………………….…..817-871-7600
Dr.
Edward Sierra, Director of the Dept. of Environmental
Mgt….817-871-8079
Copies of the entire ordinance can be obtained from Cathy Diamond at 817-871-8079 on computer disk or hard copy.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Hinderliter
President
DELCO Cleaning Systems of Fort
Worth
________________________________________________________________________
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
December 27, 1995
Mr. Robert M. Hinderliter
President
Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort Worth
2513 Warfield Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76106
Dear Mr. Hinderliter,
Thank you for your letter of December 12, 1995. The following information is in response to your request for information on the new City of Fort Worth Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance and how it was developed. All cities in the US over 100,000 in population must now have a NPDES Stormwater Permit from the EPA to operate their municipal storm drain systems. One of the key elements of this permit requires the cities to create and enforce an ordinance which bans pollutant discharges to the storm drain. The City of Fort Worth ordinance reads; "A person commits an offense, punishable by a fine, if he introduces or causes to be introduced, any discharge to the storm drain system that is not entirely composed of stormwater." The EPA did grant certain exemptions to this rule and the various cities have also enacted specific exemptions for their area. Some of these exemptions include discharges composed of runoff from lawn sprinklers, surfacing groundwater, air conditioner condensation and fire fighting water.
The Fort Worth ordinance contains an exemption that may be used by cosmetic cleaners (power washers) under special circumstances. This exemption states that a discharge or flow of cold water used in cosmetic cleaning that is not contaminated with any soap, detergent, degreaser, solvent, emulsifier, dispersant or any other cleaning substance can be discharged to the storm drain as long as the storm drain inlet is screened to catch debris and the discharge passes through an oil absorbent pad or boom. No oil sheen may be present in the discharge after it passes through the pad or boom. The City of Fort Worth Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is recommending screening the storm drain inlet with a 20 mesh or finer screen to catch the debris. Cleaning with hot water (over 110°F) is also allowed under this exemption as long as permission is obtained from DEM prior to starting the job.
Cosmetic cleaners must be very careful if they choose to use this exemption. Even though they may be using water only, with no added detergents, degreasers, etc., they could easily wash off existing pollutants from the surface they are cleaning which could put them in violation of the ordinance.
Another element of the EPA Stormwater Permit requires the cities to test selected areas within their storm drain system. The City of Fort Worth has tested over 560 sites. Detergents were discovered in over 50% of these sites making detergents the most frequently encountered pollutant in City storm drains. Repeated field observations of cosmetic cleaning activities showed that a significant amount of detergents were being discharged into the streets and City storm drains. Since the City must show a decrease in the pollutants at the 560 sites over the next five years, the City enacted specific regulations to limit these types of discharges. The new regulations include the banning of cosmetic cleaning discharges to the storm drain and the implementation of a permit system for mobile power washing activities.
The new Cosmetic Cleaning Permit is being administered by DEM as this department is charged with implementing the City’s EPA Stormwater Permit. Detergent in the storm drain is considered a stormwater issue. Other cities may regulate cosmetic cleaning activities through their Public Works Department, Water Department, Water/Stormwater Utility District or other agencies which oversee their EPA Stormwater Permit.
Banning the cosmetic cleaning discharges from the storm drain leaves the operators with two disposal options. The first is to collect their effluent and haul it to a treatment facility which is approved to accept such wastes. The second option is to discharge the effluent to the sanitary sewer, preferably at the job site. The City of Fort Worth chose option two for several reasons. Hauling the waste water to a treatment facility proved too costly for most cosmetic cleaners due to the high per-gallon disposal cost charged by the treatment facilities. Limited testing performed by DEM, in addition to data supplied by the power washing industry, revealed that the average cosmetic cleaning effluent tested below the City’s numerical standards (i.e., temperature, pH, oil & grease, metals, etc.) used for approving discharges to the sanitary sewer as long as liquid accumulations of oil, gasoline, grease, etc., were pre-cleaned using an absorbent material. Since it was determined that pollutant levels in the power wash effluents were low enough for discharge to the sanitary sewer, the Water Department was then concerned with volume. It was estimated that the total volume of wastewater generated by all the cosmetic cleaners operating in Fort Worth on any given day was not likely to exceed 20,000 gallons. The Director of the Fort Worth Water Department deemed this volume "insignificant" when compared to the City’s total treatment capacity of 110,000,000 gal/per day.
The Water Department’s final concern involved how the cosmetic cleaner was going to access the sanitary sewer. Everyone was in agreement that the waste water belonged to the property owner, not the cosmetic cleaner, so the waste water should be discharged on-site if possible. The ideal discharge point would be into a sand or grit trap such as those found in car wash bays. Unfortunately, few sites contain such facilities so the discharge options revert to sinks, toilets, floor drains and clean-out stubs. It does not matter which of these conveyances the cosmetic cleaner uses as long as the discharge does not contain grit, grease or other substances which could possibly clog the pipe and the discharge meets the numerical standards discussed above. DEM is recommending discharging through a 400 micron filter to remove the grit and sludge. It is up to the property owner to decide which conveyance to discharge into as they own the plumbing system located within their property lines and are ultimately responsible for what is in their system. It should also be noted that discharges into manholes are strictly forbidden, no matter where they are located. It is not only dangerous to remove the lid from a manhole but it is also illegal in most cities. Waste water that is pre-treated before discharge to the sanitary sewer is, by City definition, a process water and thereby subject to the rules and regulations of the Water Department’s Division of Industrial Waste. Cosmetic Cleaners that utilize wash water recycling units fit into this "process water" category and must test their effluent at least once annually. The results of the tests must be sent to the Division of Industrial Waste to determine compliance with the numerical standards for discharge to the sanitary sewer. The EPA requires that the Division of Industrial Waste have the ability to take samples from the effluent of all process waters so cosmetic cleaners using wash water recycling units must supply a map of all of the discharge points they use as a part of their Cosmetic Cleaning Permit.
I hope this answers all of your questions Mr. Hinderliter. Should you or any of your associates need further information, please do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, Brian L. Camp, Jr.
Senior
Environmental Quality Specialist
(817)871-5458
________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the Forth Worth Cosmetic Cleaning Ordinance
Section 12.5-315. Permit and Registration Required .
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly engages in mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning without a valid permit issued by the Director.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly operates or causes to be operated a mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning vehicle which is not registered with the Director.
Section 12.5-316. Permit Application Procedures.
(a) A person required by section 12.5-315 to have a permit shall complete and file a permit application on a form prescribed by the Director.
(b) The Director may require any information on an application that the Director believes is necessary to ensure that best management practices are implemented by the permittee.
(c) The application shall include a description and the vehicle license registration number of each vehicle to be registered under the permit. All motor vehicles and trailers used to transport cosmetic cleaning rigs shall be registered. However, a motor vehicle which is used to tow a trailer registered with the Director and which is not used to transport a cosmetic cleaning rig itself, shall not be required to be registered.
(d) Any applicant who utilizes wash water recycling units shall list all sanitary sewer discharge locations and other disposal sites the applicant intends to use.
Section 12.5-317. Issuance of Permit and Registration Certificates.
(a) The Director may issue a permit and registration certificates after the applicant pays all applicable fees, unless the Director has cause to deny such permit, as specified in Section 12.5-320. The Director shall provide for procedures to add registered vehicles to a permit during its term.
(b) A permit shall be valid for one year from the date of its issuance, unless suspended or revoked. Registration certificates shall be valid for the term of the permit.
(c) Neither a permit nor a registration certificate shall be transferable.
(d) The City Council shall set an annual fee for a permit and each registration certificate issued under this Division.
(e) The Director will issue a registration number to each vehicle registered under a permit, and listed on the permit. A registration number is not transferable.
(f) The Director will issue a registration certificate for each vehicle registered under a permit. The certificate shall be of a size and design determined by the Director.
Section 12.5-318. Display of Registration Numbers and Certificates.
(a) A permit holder shall have the registration numbers permanently displayed on each of its vehicles registered under the permit as follows: (1) The registration number shall be placed on both sides of the vehicle in a location approved by the Director. (2) The registration number shall be in numerals of a minimum height of three(3) inches, in a color contrasting to their background, and in a visible location (b) A permit holder shall place a registration certificate on each registered vehicle in a location approved by the Director. (c) A person commits an offense if the person operates or causes to be operated a mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning vehicle which does not properly display the registration number assigned to that vehicle by the Director. (d) A person commits an offense if the person operates or causes to be operated a mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning vehicle which does not properly display a valid registration certificate.
Section 12.5-319. Permit Conditions.
As a condition of receiving and maintaining a permit under this Division a permit holder shall comply with the following:
(a) A permit holder shall immediately notify the Director of any management changes in the business during the time the permit is in effect.
(b) A permit holder shall submit samples of wash water and/or waste water to the Director or to an an authorized representative of the Director of the Department of Water, immediately upon their demand.
(c) A permit holder who utilizes wash water
recycling units shall:
(1) notify the Director in writing of all changes
in disposal sites it wants to use during the permit period;
(2) discharge
wash water into the sanitary sewer only at those sites listed in its permit
application and its notices under subsection (c) (1); and
(3) before the
end of each permit period:
(d) A permit holder shall immediately notify the
Director when it sells or otherwise disposes of a vehicle registered under its
permit.
(e) A permit holder shall ensure that all of its
employees engaged in mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning are knowledgeable of
the discharge prohibitions to the MS4 under the Article, and shall require all
its employees to use best management practices when engaging in mobile
commercial cosmetic cleaning. For exterior cleaning, best management practices
shall include, but not limited to, the following:
(f) A permit holder shall ensure that all of its
vehicles registered under the permit display the registration numbers and
certificates as required by this Division, and shall not allow unregistered
vehicles to engage in mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning.
(g) A permit holder shall not discharge to the MS4
in violation of this Article.
(h) A permit holder shall not discharge wastewater
to the sanitary sewer system in violation of Section 12.5-610 of this chapter.
(i) A permit holder shall not discharge wastewater
into the sanitary sewer, either on a job site or off a job site, without the
permission of the owner of the property upon which the sewer inlet is located.
The permit holder shall provide proof of such permission to the Director upon
demand.
(k) A permit holder shall not create or maintain a nuisance in violation of Section 12.5-321.
Section 12.5-320. Permit Denial and Revocation.
(a) The Director may deny a permit, or after notice and hearing revoke a permit if:
(b) An applicant whose permit is denied will be notified by the Director, in writing, of the denial and the grounds therefore. Such notice will be sent certified mail, return receipt requested, to the mailing address listed on the application.
(c) An applicant whose permit is denied may request a reconsideration no later than the tenth day after receipt of the notice of denial, in accordance with Section 12.5-119(b)of this chapter.
(d) A permit may be suspended or revoked under the procedures of Section 12.5-119(b) of this chapter.
Section 12.5-321. Nuisances.
(a) A vehicle transporting cosmetic cleaning wash water or wastewater which is leaking or spilling from such vehicle is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(b) Any premises upon which cosmetic cleaning wastewater has accumulated and which is emitting noxious or offensive odors, or which is creating an unsanitary condition, or which is injurious to the public health or the environment is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
[Sections 12.5-322 through 12.5-399 reserved.]
________________________________________________________________________
Department of Environmental Management
November 29, 1995
Mr. Robert Hinderliter
Rahsco Manufacturing Co.
2513 Warfield Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76106
Dear Mr. Hinderliter:
The Fort Worth City Council passed on November 28, 1995, the City of Fort Worth Environmental Protection and Compliance Code. Section 12.5-315 of the Environmental Protection and Compliance Code requires that person (s) engaged in mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning within the City of Fort Worth obtain a permit for such activity and certificates for each vehicle used for such activity. Each person performing cosmetic cleaning within the City of Fort Worth must obtain one (1) permit to engage in mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning and one (1) certificate for each vehicle used. The permit and certificates are valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually, thereafter. The fee for the permit is twenty-five ($25.00) dollars and the fee for each certificate is twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.
Attached is an application for the procurement of the required permit and certificates. Please complete the application and return it along with the appropriate fees to:
City of Fort Worth
All applications and fees must be received before
December 30, 1995. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Cathy Diamond,
of my staff, at (817) 871-6088.
Sincerely,
Dr. Edward Sierra Director
Enclosure
ES:cd
________________________________________________________________________
FIRM
_________________________________________________________DATE ____/____/_9__
OWNER’S NAME
________________________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL
CONTACTS ________________________________________________________
LOCATION
ADDRESS____________________________________________________________
MAILING
ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________
BUSINESS TELEPHONE_(___)______________________ FAX _(___)______________
#
OF EMPLOYEES _______ # OF VEHICLES CONTAINING WASH UNITS ______
LICENSE
NUMBER(S) OF VEHICLE (S) CONTAINING WASH UNIT (S)
#1____________________
#2____________________ #3____________________
#4____________________
#5____________________#6____________________
(PLEASE LIST ADDITIONAL
TRAILER LICENSE #’S ON BACK)
IS A RECYCLE UNIT USED? YES_____ NO _____
THE FOLLOWING APPLIES ONLY IF YES WAS ANSWERED IN THE LAST QUESTION
TYPE OF RECYCLED UNIT: 8 HOUR___16 HOUR___OTHER___(PLEASE DESCRIBE ON
BACK)
ADDRESS OF DISCHARGE POINTS _____________________________________
ADDITIONAL DISCHARGE
POINTS___________________________________________
______________________________________
PLEASE LIST ADDITIONAL DISCHARGE
POINTS ON BACK
TYPE OF DISCHARGE POINT (S) (CLEAN-OUT STUB, SAND/GRIT
TRAP, CLARIFIER, FLOOR DRAIN, SINK, OTHER) PLEASE
DESCRIBE__________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION OF DISCHARGE POINT ON PROPERTY - PLEASE DRAW MAP (S) ON SEPARATE
SHEETS OF PAPER SHOWING THE LOCATION OF EACH DISCHARGE POINT USED.
DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
DATE:_______________________ PERMIT:_____________________
LICENSE_______________CERTIFICATE__________________
________________________________________________________________________
Purpose of the Permit System: To limit detergents and other pollutants from being discharged into the City’s storm drain system. Anything that is discharged into the street eventually ends up in a local creek, lake or river and these discharges do not go through a purification treatment process like sewage. Because of the widespread pollution detected in storm drains around the country, the EPA is requiring all cities over 100,000 in population to create pollution control programs and clean up their storm drains. If these programs fail then the EPA could force the cities to build stormwater treatment facilities similar to the facilities that treat sewage which will result in substantial tax increases for everyone. The Cosmetic Cleaning Permit System is just one of the many programs the City is now using to control water pollution problems in Fort Worth.
The following information is provided to help you understand the terms and limitations of your new permit. If you need additional information or have any question, please call the Water Quality Division of the City of Fort Worth Department of Environmental Management at 871-5450 between 8:00 and 4:30.
Precleaning liquid accumulations of oil or grease with absorbent clay or a similar material prior to washing. The oil soaked clay should be placed in a plastic bag and disposed to a dumpster.
If your wash water meets the requirements of one of the exemptions listed in the following pages and can be discharged to the storm drain, then storm drain entrances must be screened to catch leaves and other debris. The Department of Environmental Management is recommending using a 20 mesh or finer screen over the storm drain inlet. The debris may be placed in a dumpster after it has dried.
Also, if your wash water can be discharged to the storm drain then it must pass through an oil absorbent boom or pad so no oil sheen is present in the discharge.
All wash water that does not meet the requirements of the exemptions must be collected before it leaves the property and it is up to you to determine the best method of confining the wash water on property. You may choose to use a stationary boom teamed with a sump pump or wet vac, a vacuum boom system or some other method. Regardless of the method you choose, you must not let any wash water escape the property and enter the storm drain system.
Notify the Department of environmental Management of all changes in disposal sites used during the permit term.
Discharge wash water into the sanitary sewer only at those sites described in the permit application.
Test or cause to be tested at least once during each permit term a representative sample of the wash water. The sample must be tested for oil and grease, cyanide, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, zinc. Testing methods must be as specified by the Supervisor of the Industrial Waste Section of the Wastewater Treatment Division of the Fort Worth Water Department. Call Industrial Waste at 871-8305 for more details on testing methods
Report the results of such tests to the Industrial Waste Section of the Wastewater Treatment Division of the Fort Worth Water Department.
A discharge or flow from cold water used in cosmetic cleaning that is not contaminated with any soap, detergent, degreaser, solvent, emulsifier, dispersant or any other cleaning substance. Also, this exemption applies to discharges using hot water cosmetic cleaning without any of the mentioned contaminants provided that permission is granted by the Department of Environmental Management prior to using the hot water. Hot water is defined as any water over 110°F. Remember, any discharge used with this exemption must be screened for debris and must pass through an oil boom or oil absorbent pad before it enters the storm drain system.
As you would expect, the Department of Environmental Management has received may questions concerning this permit. We would like to pass along some of these questions and our response to them.
When did the "No off-property discharge" regulations go into effect? It has been illegal to discharge any type of wastewater off-property in Fort Worth since the turn of the century. However, the regulations had not been heavily enforced until recently so many cosmetic cleaners were under the mistaken impression that it was OK for them to discharge their wash water to the storm drain.
Why do we have to have a permit? In 1993, the Department of Environmental Management tested over 560 sites within the City limits. We discovered detergents in over 50% of these sites making detergents the most frequently encountered pollutant in the City. It was determined that cosmetic cleaning is a significant source of these detergents and because the EPA is giving the City five (5) years to show a decrease in the pollutants at the 560 sites the City had to enact specific regulations for cosmetic cleaning.
Who sets the fees for the Permits? The City Council sets all fees for all programs run in the City.
Why do I have to pay a fee? The City is allowed by law to cover all administrative costs of a specific program by charging a fee. The fee can not be used just to make money for the Department. Your fee pays for all of the paperwork, computer data, sticker costs and labor needed to run this permit program.
I use biodegradable detergents. Why can’t I discharge these to the storm drain? The term "biodegradable simply means that the product will not harm bacteria in the sewage treatment plant and that it breaks down faster that more conventional products. A biodegradable detergent can cause a fish kill in a creek just as fast as any other type of detergent. We do appreciate the use of biodegradable products because they are much gentler on the treatment plant when you properly dispose of them to the sanitary sewer.
I sometimes pull the spray rig out of my truck and use it as my private vehicle. Do I have to put numbers and stickers on the outside of my truck? -or- I paid several hundred dollars for a custom paint job on my truck and trailer. Do I have to put these stickers and numbers on and ruin the look of my rig? The answer to this is no. We do not want anyone to ruin a great paint job or make their vehicle look like strictly a business truck. You can place the numbers and stickers anywhere you wish as long as the are visible . For instance, you could place them on the water tank or somewhere on the side of the spray rig. You could also place them on some sort of placrard that could be removed when you are not using your truck for business purposes.
Why do I need to put the numbers and stickers on my rig? When an inspector drives by and sees you in operation he is going to stop and observe your set up and he will need to know if you are holding a valid permit. If he sees your registration numbers and sticker on your rig, then he will not have to interrupt you and cause you to lose valuable work time by having you dig through your truck looking for your paperwork. In fact, the only time you should have to talk to an inspector is when you have a question.
Do I need to test my water if I am not using a recycling rig? No. However, all limitations that are associated with discharges to the sanitary sewer do apply to you and you could be fined by the Water Department for exceeding these limitations. You should always be aware of what you are discharging to the sanitary sewer and take all necessary precautions needed to keep your discharge as clean as possible.
Do I need to supply a map of my discharge points if I don’t use a wash water recycling unit? No. This is only required of those using recycling units because the Water Department must have a method of monitoring these points to comply with EPA regulations.
Can I wash a parking lot or gas station with cold ( or hot) water only and discharge it to the storm drain? Probably not. Even though the ordinance states that you can discharge to the storm drain if you don’t use detergents, degreasers, etc., you will probably be washing oil, grease, metals and dirt off property which will violate the ordinance. This exemption was designed for cosmetic cleaners washing objects such as sidewalks, headstones, walls and other things that are unlikely to be affected by the normal pollutants. Remember, it is not just the chemicals you use, it is also the pollutants you wash off that are banned from the storm drain system.
Is dirt considered a pollutant? Dirt itself is not considered a true pollutant. However, the State of Texas does have a numerical standard for discharges of dirt to waterways. This standard is known as Total Suspended Solids (TSS). So even if you are not washing pollutants off property and you are allowed to discharge to the storm drain, be aware that too much dirt will put you in exceedence of the TSS Standard and you could be fined by the City and the State.
How do I access the sanitary sewer line to so can properly dispose of my wash water? You can access the line through a clean out stub (where the Roto Rooter guy send the drain snake), a sink, a toilet or some floor drains. Be aware that most floor drains located outside go to the storm so be sure you know how things are plumbed before discharging to floor drains. If there is a car wash or some sort of sand or grit trap on the property, discharge into those as they will help clean your wash water before it enters the pipe. Never open a manhole. Opening manholes is not only extremely dangerous, it is also against the law.
Will private citizens washing cars in their driveways be required to obtain a permit? After all, their wash water is entering the streets and storm drains. The EPA has exempted residential car washing from the storm water rules so private citizens do not need any sort of permit. However the City does recognize this activity as another source of detergents that enter our waterways and we are encouraging people to consider alternative car washing methods. The Department of Environmental Management and the Water Department have been distributing this information through brochures, newspaper articles, water bill inserts, programs to neighborhood associations, classroom lectures and a host of other public education activities.
How do I find out if other cities where I do business have power washing requirements or restrictions? At this time, most cities do not have a permit system but probably have some other requirements such as confining the wash water on property. Your best bet is to contact someone in that city’s stormwater or surface water program. The City of Fort Worth will continue to work with the other Metroplex cities in trying to standardize the power washing requirements so a power washer working in one city will not have to operate under a different set of rules in the next city he works in.
October 11, 2002
Mr. Robert Hinderliter
Delco Cleaning Systems of
Fort Worth
2513 Warfield Street
Fort Worth, TX 76106
Dear Mr. Hinderliter:
Thank you for your inquiry concerning the City of Fort Worth Storm Water Ordinance and how it applies to the pressure washing industry.
The Storm Water Ordinance was originally passed by the City Council on January 2, 1996. The ordinance was later amended on May 18, 1999 to reflect changes in state and federal regulations affecting certain industrial sectors and construction activities. As you know, the ordinance requires pressure washers to apply for a permit to operate in Fort Worth. Prohibited discharges are defined in Division 1, Section 12.5-302. Cosmetic Cleaning regulations are found in Division 2, Sections 12.5-313 through 12.5-321.
You can best access the ordinance through our Department's web page located at www.fortworthgov.org/DEM/stormpg.htm. There are links that will take you directly to the ordinance plus there is a link that will also take you to the Cosmetic Cleaning page. Another link of interest to your industry is the "Guide For The Food Service Industry." This guide was specifically designed for restaurants and describes environmentally friendly methods for both interior and exterior cleaning. The full color guide can be downloaded.
The Cosmetic Cleaning web page has further links that will take you to a fact sheet, frequently asked questions, a permit application and a list of permitted pressure washers. There is also a link to the Storm Water ordinance on this page.
The Storm Water Ordinance web page contains additional links. If you wish to view the City's entire environmental ordinance, click on "Environment Code." Our ordinance was used by USEPA as a model for other cities to follow and a link to EPA's ordinance page is provided.
The impetus for enacting the ordinance was based upon detection of detergents in 50% of our storm drain outfalls in 1991. In fact, detergents were the #1 cause of water pollution in Fort Worth at that time. When looking for possible sources, both the public and the pressure washing industry were identified as the major contributors of detergents to our local waterways. Through both regulation of the pressure washing industry and a public education campaign, we have significantly reduced the presence of detergents in our storm drain system. In 2001, detergents were only detected in 14% of our outfalls.
We certainly appreciate your efforts through both local business and the Power Washers of North America in educating your industry on the environmental problems associated with pressure washing and the innovative methods now being used to eliminate illicit discharges. Please keep up the good work and if I can be of further assistance, please call.
Sincerely,
Brian L. Camp, Jr.
Environmental Program Manager
City of Fort Worth Department of Environmental Management
Phone:
817-871-5458, Email: CampB@ci.fort-worth.tx.
Environmental Power Washing Reports and Ordinances
"Municipal Regulations for Cosmetic Power Washing", a resource guide for regulators
MultiTech Environmental Mobile Power Wash Rig (New for 2003)
Delco's Informational Website Index at dcs1.com