Pressure washing equipment is also used for stripping paint or for preparing and treating other types of surfaces.
The Problem
Most pressure washing activities are conducted outside. This often results in the discharge of wastewater to the storm drain, unless the equipment operator takes steps to collect and dispose of it legally. Discharge of pressure washing wastewater to the storm drain is prohibited because it contains pollutants from the objects or surfaces being cleaned and/or from the cleaning compounds being used. Even cleaners labeled “biodegradable” and “non-toxic” may be harmful to aquatic life, especially after cleaning various surfaces (e.g. dumpster areas, parking lots, equipment and more) that contain fats, oils, greases, chemicals (such as herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, solvents, anti-freeze and fertilizers), as well as other substances.
Any substance,
including pressure washing wastewater that enters storm drains flows directly
into lakes, rivers, and streams. This water is not treated or cleaned to remove pollutants.
Pollutants discharged to the storm drain harm fish and wildlife and contaminate
recreational sites and drinking water supplies.
Regulations
To improve the quality of water we fish and swim in, not to mention
drink, Federal and State regulations prohibit discharges of pollutants to water
bodies without a permit. Because of these regulations, the Cities of Citrus
Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, and the County of Sacramento California
As required by the MS4 Permit, these local agencies have adopted Storm
Water Ordinances that prohibit non-storm water discharges. The discharge of
wastewater from pressure washing to the storm drain or surface waters is
prohibited by these ordinances.
However, preventing discharge to the storm drain is only part of the story. Improper discharges to the sanitary sewer, septic tanks, or land can also cause environmental harm, damage equipment and facilities, and violate regulations.
Pressure Washing as Part of the Solution
Pressure washing is an activity that can help improve the quality of our waters when done properly. By cleaning (pressure washing) surfaces (e.g. equipment, parking lots, sidewalks, buildings, etc.), collecting the wastes (water and/or debris), and properly disposing of the wastes, there is less chance of pollutants ending up in our waterways. It is through education, proper collection and disposal that pressure washing can have a positive impact on the environment!
Clean Water Business Partner Program (CWBPP)
Pressure washers conducting
business within
DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS
Proper disposal of pressure washing wastewater, in compliance with environmental regulations, depends on the nature of the pollutants in it. It is the responsibility of the generator to determine the proper collection and disposal method for wastewater created by pressure washing. To avoid unanticipated costs, delays, and violations, this determination should always be made prior to starting any job.
All disposal methods are subject to requirements, restrictions, and prohibitions, and are outlined below.
Storm Drains
h
Discharging
pressure washing wastewater, into any natural body of water or any storm water
drainage system, such as storm drains, ditches, and gutters, within
h
Exceptions to
this prohibition must be approved in writing by the local storm water
jurisdiction and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Evaporation
h
Pressure
washing wastewater that contains visible debris or residue, soap, detergent or
other cleaning agents, hazardous waste, or excessive amounts of any pollutant,
may not be left on paved surfaces to evaporate, because the residue will
eventually be discharged to the storm drain.
Land Disposal
h
Wastewater
disposal to land must not create a nuisance condition, flow into the storm
drain, reach the shallow aquifer, or contaminate soil with hazardous waste
(e.g., oils, grease, paints, paint removers and some cleaning agents).
h
Wastewater
containing garbage, food wastes, or visible trash may not be discharged to
land.
h
Any wastewater
disposal to land must have the approval of the property owner.
h
A permit is
not a release from liability for contamination.
Sanitary Sewer
h
Disposal of
pressure washing wastewater to the sanitary sewer must meet the requirements of
the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) (916-875-6470). See SRCSD’s Sewer Use Ordinance and Surface
Cleaning Wastewater policy for more information.
h
The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation
District’s (SRCSD) sanitary sewer system service area includes the Cities of
Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, and
h Residential SRCSD customers conducting pressure washing activities at their home are not required to obtain a permit. However, homeowners are required to comply with the discharge requirements of the SRCSD Sewer Use Ordinance. Using the BMPs described in this document will help residential users comply with SRCSD requirements.
h Businesses in the SRCSD service area utilizing a pressure washing company/contractor that will be disposing of the wastewater into their sanitary sewer clean-out/inlet are required to have a Sewer Use Questionnaire (SUQ) on file with SRCSD. Note: property owner permission is required prior to discharging wastewater into the customer’s sanitary sewer clean-out/inlet.
h
Discharges to the sanitary sewer within the Galt
service area must comply with the requirements of the City of
Septic Systems
h Discharges
of pressure washing wastewater to a septic system anywhere within
Hazardous Waste
h Beware of pressure washing surfaces that contain lead-based paint, or areas with freestanding liquids (e.g. oil, solvents, antifreeze, etc.). Pressure washing these type of surfaces may generate hazardous waste (e.g., lead-based paint chips, oil/grease, hydrofluoric acid, muriatic acid, etc.). Generating hazardous waste may dramatically increase your operating costs and limit your disposal options. For more information on hazardous waste determination call the Sacramento County Hazardous Materials Division (HMD) at 916-875-8550 or the Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) at 916-364-4110.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
PLANNING
h
Prior to
beginning pressure washing activities, determine what collection method you
will be using and how you intend to properly dispose of the wastewater
generated from each cleaning activity.
h
Obtain all
necessary permits and authorizations.
h Identify the specific location where you will be disposing wastewater (e.g. job-site sewer clean-out, county septage station, or the sewer clean-out at your place of business).
h Always obtain the property owner’s permission before disposing of wastewater at a job site (i.e. sanitary sewer clean-out) and remind the business owner to have an updated Sewer Use Questionnaire submitted to SRCSD.
SURFACE
PRE-CLEANING
Consider using dry methods for surface pre-cleaning, such as using absorbents on small oil spots and sweeping up trash/debris/dirt/used absorbent before wet washing. Methods such as these may be used at locations such as auto repair facilities; auto parts stores, gas stations, as well as many other places. In most cases, absorbent material (e.g. kitty litter) used to pre-clean oil spots and has not become saturated may be discarded as a non-hazardous waste in the garbage receptacle. However, you should also be aware of the costs and requirements associated with disposing of pre-cleaning wastes which may be identified as hazardous waste and require special management. Note: it is important to remember, when using dry pre-cleaning methods, be sure to pick up pre-cleaning debris as soon as possible, so the materials do not have a chance to enter the storm drains. For more information on proper disposal of pre-cleaning material call HMD at (916) 875-8550 or BERC at (916) 364-4110.
PRESSURE WASHING
Minimize the amount of water used during pressure washing activities, thus reducing the volume of wastewater that will need to be disposed.
h Avoid using cleaning products that contain hazardous substances (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, muriatic acid, sodium hydroxide, bleach, etc.) and can turn wastewater into hazardous waste.
h Acidic, caustic, and detergent cleaners may damage paved or coated surfaces.
h Strong acids and bases should be neutralized.
h
Once most of
the wastewater has been collected and properly disposed, minimal residual
amounts of wastewater that can not be collected and that will not reach storm
drains may be left on paved surfaces and allowed to evaporate. Sweeping the
area may be necessary to avoid leaving behind visible solids that will be
washed into the storm drain at a later time.
h
Wastewater
with high pollutant concentrations, including wastewater that contains cleaning
compounds, must be completely collected and may not be left to evaporate.
WASTEWATER
COLLECTION
h
Identify where
all area storm drains are situated.
h
Locate
property high and low-spots and determine the area where wastewater can be
pooled for collection. Drainage swales may sometimes be used to collect water
before it enters a storm drain.
h
Common
equipment used for containing and collecting wastewater generated during
pressure washing activities include: vacuum pumps, booms/berms, portable
containment areas, weighted storm drain covers, inflatable plumber’s plugs,
oil/water separators, holding tanks, portable sump pumps, hoses, absorbents,
and more.
h
Avoid mixing
non-hazardous wastewater with wastewater known to contain hazardous levels of
pollutants. This may increase the volume
of waste and require complicated treatment and/or disposal as a hazardous
waste, thus increasing disposal costs.
h
Place an
oil-absorbent mat/pad on top of collected wastewater to help reduce the amount
of oil re-deposited on the surface of the collection area.
h
Wastewater can
be filtered through an oil absorbent boom or oil/water separator and a filter
to decrease the concentration of oil in the liquid and to decrease the amount
of solids in the wastewater.
h
Once
wastewater has been collected and/or discharged to the sanitary sewer system,
visible solids remaining in the collection area must be swept up to prevent
subsequent discharge to the storm drain.
WASTEWATER DISPOSAL
All wastewater discharged into the sanitary sewer must meet the requirements of the SRCSD and often includes obtaining pre-approval prior to disposal.
Within the SRCSD service area, any pressure washing
contractor discharging to the sanitary sewer must have a permit issued by
SRCSD. Most of the contiguous urban area of
The following activities require an SRCSD permit for pressure washing contractors, however, they do not require pre-approval prior to each discharge into the sanitary sewer system.
· Transportation
related cleaning (not including engine degreasing) - washing fleet vehicle exteriors, mobile auto detailing, and
rinsing of automobiles, recreational vehicles (RV), and boats at retail
dealerships
· Surface
related cleaning - sidewalks,
plazas, driveways, parking garages, service stations, and building exteriors
and walls
· Food service
related cleaning - restaurant
alleys, grocery dumpster areas, restaurant floor mats, exhaust filters, grease
filters, lunch wagons (non-engine), and food carts
Refer to SRCSD’s Surface Cleaning Wastewater Policy for specific requirements.
Other types of permitted wastewater discharges may be acceptable for disposal into the sewer system, however pre-approval must be obtained by SRCSD prior to each discharge. The following pressure washing activities require SRCSD pre-approval.
· Engine/equipment
degreasing - wastewater must be
treated with an oil absorbent boom, a sand/oil/water separator, or an
equivalent level of treatment prior to discharge
· Acid cleaning
- unpainted vehicles,
equipment, structures, or containers
· Other
activities not listed (Excluding
Transportation, Surface, and Food Service related cleaning)
Contact SRCSD for pre-approval authorization prior to each sewer discharge. Approvals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Sewer Disposal
Options
Disposal options for non-hazardous pressure washing wastewater include:
· Collecting and discharging wastewater into the sanitary sewer via the sanitary sewer clean-out or sanitary sewer inlet at the point of generation (job site). This activity must be conducted in accordance with SRCSD’s Surface Cleaning Wastewater Policy and may require some form of pretreatment (i.e., pH adjustment), depending on the nature of the wastewater. In addition, this disposal method must be approved by the property owner(s) prior to discharge.
· Collecting and transporting wastewater in a holding tank for proper sewer system disposal at an off-site SRCSD septage site provided that 1) it is conducted in accordance with SRCSD policies, and 2) a permit is obtained from SRCSD prior to discharge.
· Collecting and discharging wastewater into the sanitary sewer at the pressure washer’s place of business using the sewer clean out. Note: make sure to submit a SUQ to SRCSD if you discharge pressure washing wastewater to the sanitary sewer at your place of business.
· Obtain permission from the property owner for any type of discharge to the sanitary sewer and make sure wastewater meets SRCSD guidelines and/or is approved by an authorizing agency prior to seeking the property owner’s permission.
Land Disposal
Wastewater may be collected and discharged or directed onto landscaped and/or dirt areas only when the wastewater does not contain contaminants (i.e. solvents, cleaners, oils, metals, etc.) that may constitute a hazardous waste, food products, or create a nuisance condition. In addition, such discharges must soak into the ground and may not flow into the storm drain. Make sure to obtain permission from the property owner prior to discharging or diverting wastewater to landscapes and/or dirt areas.
If
you are diverting wastewater to landscaped areas, avoid damage to plants and
soil by minimizing or eliminating the use of soaps, detergents, and chemicals.
Filter out any solids that would be visible on the ground after discharge. In addition, minimize the use of water to
avoid wastewater overflowing from these areas.
Note: repeated discharges to landscaped areas may
result in an accumulation of contaminants, thus damaging vegetation and increasing
contaminant levels in the soil.
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
If you operate or are considering using a wastewater
recycling or pretreatment unit (e.g. oil/water separator), make sure you
understand the waste streams that are generated. Identify proper disposal methods for these
wastes, and consider disposal costs before starting a job. Some units, especially those that separate
oil from water, may generate hazardous waste (e.g. waste oil) and require
special storage and handling practices.
Consider contracting with a company that can provide
appropriate treatment and disposal of your wastes. This may save you time and money associated
with purchasing, permitting, and using your own wastewater treatment equipment. In some cases, you may be able to reduce the
liability that comes with the generation and disposal of hazardous waste. Contact SRCSD at (916) 875-6470 for a list of
local firms that may be able to provide disposal and/or treatment of your
wastewater.
WAYS TO COLLECT WASTEWATER:
The following are examples of devices that may be used to
contain and collect wastewater during pressure washing activities. The
collection devices described below are not endorsed and are only provided as a
reference tool. In addition, there may
be other containment devices available, which are not listed.
Note: When working with electrical equipment in wet environments,
it is important to understand and comply with applicable health/safety and
electrical codes, as well as utilize appropriate safety equipment (e.g., Ground
Fault Interrupters, etc.).
|
Berms – Berms may be used to prevent
wastewater from entering a storm drain by placing a protective barrier around
the storm drain inlet, thus allowing the wastewater to pool up around the
storm drain prior to proper collection and disposal. This type of containment may be less
effective or ineffective when the storm drain is located at the bottom of a
slope and/or a large amount of wastewater is generated. |
|
|
Storm
Drain Covers/Mats – These
devices are placed on top of the storm drain cover grate, creating a quick
seal, thus preventing wastewater from entering the storm drain system. Storm drain covers/mats (magnetic vinyl
mats, PVC drain covers, polyurethane mats, and others) allow wastewater to
accumulate on top of it until the pressure washing activity is complete and
the wastewater can be collected for proper disposal. Storm drain covers/mats are frequently used
along with a vacuum device (e.g. sump pump, wet/dry vacuum, and vacuum pump)
that diverts wastewater into the sanitary sewer system. |
|
|
|
|
Containment
Pools – A portable or
temporary containment pool is another option which may be used by pressure
washers to collect wastewater.
Containment pools are easy to assemble, provide an immediate work
area, and allow the wastewater to be collected in a manner that will prevent
pollutants from entering the storm drains.
Containment pools vary in size and material, and hold anything from a
shopping cart to a truck and trailer. |
|
|
|
Vacuums/Pumps – Devices such as wet/dry vacuums,
sump pumps, and vacuum pumps may be used to collect wastewater after pressure
washing. Vacuum devices typically have
an extension (vacuum boom) which allows the wastewater to be collected
efficiently. In addition, many vacuum
devices are designed with a second hose (e.g. garden hose) that can run from
the pump to the sanitary sewer or a truck/trailer mounted holding tank,
depending on disposal method. |
|
|
|
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Vacuum Boom – Vacuum booms are an attachment for
the vacuum device. The boom typically
rests flush on the ground and draws wastewater through small holes on the
bottom of the boom. In addition,
different variations of vacuum booms are available for areas with steep
slopes or rough terrain. |
|
|
Inflatable Pipe
Plug – Inflatable pipe
plugs prevent wastewater from entering a storm drain system by blocking the
pipe leading from the drain inlet.
Unlike the storm drain mats/covers that block storm drain grates, the
inflatable pipe plug is inserted into the storm drain pipe and uses the inlet
structure beneath the grate to collect the wastewater. Once inserted, the
plug is inflated to make a snug fit.
Once the wastewater has been contained, it can be collected and
properly disposed by using a portable pump device (e.g. sump pump, vacuum
pump, etc.). Note: inflatable pipe plugs should only be used
in storm drains on private property. They are not authorized to be used in
public storm drain inlets or pipes. |
|
|
Swales –Swales are typically considered
small open channels, which are located at the perimeter of a facility or
parking lot, and are used to divert wastewater away from storm drains. Swales are usually sloped with a drain at
the lowest point and are stabilized with either vegetation or rock. These
small open channels are usually installed during the construction phase to
collect, absorb, and filter wastewater and sediment, thus reducing the amount
of water entering the drain. Other types of swales include long, low points
in broad paved areas, such as parking lots, spaces between commercial
buildings or industrial yards. Some facilities may have swales onsite and may
provide you with an additional collection option. |
|
Contact the
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
Business
Environmental
(916)
364-4110
Power Washers of
Clean Water Business Partner Program –
(916)
433-6369
Cleaning
Equipment Trade Association (CETA)
(800)
441-0111
City
of
(916)
874-6851
City
of Elk Grove Stormwater Management Program
(916)
874-6851
City
of Folsom Stormwater Management Program
(916)
351-3545
City
of
(209)
744-7545
City
of
(916)
433-6369
(916)
875-8440
(916)
875-8550
(916)
874-6851
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD)
Industrial Waste Section (IWS)
(916)
875-6470
Disclaimer:
The
information presented in this document is intended for guidance purposes only
and is not all-inclusive. The
information provided may be of value as an educational or reference tool. However, we do not endorse any content or
product that may be noted in this booklet.
Please note that laws and regulations are subject to change. It is
recommended that the applicable codes and statutes be reviewed to verify which
requirements pertain to your business. Although the material contained in this
booklet will be routinely updated as part of a scheduled document review
program, it may not reflect recent changes in the various laws and regulations.
