a visit by the ADEQ

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A buddy of mine is in the pressure washing business as well as I am. He was hired to wash the vehicles at a large state wide electric company. Before he gets started they wanted a list of references, well he gave him a list. Ok, all he does is wash trucks so his list of references include some big trucking outfits. Now, they want him to get an adeq (Arkansas department of environmental quality) permit. The potential new client calls ADEQ. He recieved a call by ADEQ and they are coming by to see a demonstration on Tuesday. :( Ok, he has some water booms, and a wet vac. He says he dumps his wash water in his uncles coin car wash. Any advice? Is he gonna be in for some serious trouble?
 
He's picking up his water and putting it into the right place as far as I'm concerned. They may want him to get a permit for hauling wastewater. If he is doing something wrong I would think that all he has to do is comply with what they want. I'd look at it as an opportunity. He can use this to his advantage for future clients.
 
What really pisses me off is that the adeq here will not lay out a procedure we can use to wash vehicles mobily. They will not even help you with your questions. They want you to provide pictures, video, ect. of exactly what you are doing and your process so they can make a decision. If they do not agree with your procedure, expect a huge fine. Another problem, these reclaim systems still require you to drain the filtered water. Here in Little Rock, noone wants to take the dirty water from you. Another thing that pisses me off is Adeq will not help you by giving you places to take the dirty water. They didnt like me taking it to a coin car wash my family owns. Why is this not in some instructions to follow with the thousands of pressure washers sold in walmarts and home depots? Is it bad to have the same pressure washer bolted down to a trailer? I feel like we are criminals sometimes. At least if I need to be hiding something, tell me Im doing something illegal dont just sneak up on me and fine me. They couldnt even tell me if simply blocking the drains was effecient enough. They wanted to know who I wash for....he he...uh, are you kidding me?
 
Wow, that really sucks. I'm glad it's not that bad around here. We have some very basic standards set by our state dept. of environmental protection, but at least they are standards and we know what to expect. My town takes my waste water for a nominal fee, so disposal is not a problem, during normal municipal business hours (usually 6 hours a day). I didn't realize how lucky I am in that respect.
But, my client list? No one sees that without a court order and a warrant. I guess some people would be intimidated enough to turn it over under those circumstances. Good for you for not turning it over.
Why would they want your client list anyway? It is not up to your clients to police your actions in complying with whatever ADEQ decides is not acceptable. Unless they just want you to help them catch you again.
Good Luck Joe!!
 
Have you tried contacting a local waste water treatment station and see if they are able to accomadate you? Although you may have to pay a small fee for doing it if allowed, you can pass it on.
Mike
All Brite PWS
 
Hauling water is a last resort. Does the truck yard not have a clarifier? If they were to wash their own trucks, where would they put the water? Before dumping to anyplace, it is usually required to prefilter the water of all sediment and for it to be neutralized.

Maybe Arkansas needs to call Gwinnet County georgia and adopt their rules.
 
One outfit in particular does not have a drain for their truck washing. My only alternatives for this location is to reclaim the water and maybe use it for soap. I use powder soap in a 60 gallon tank. It goes down pretty quick. The other option is carrying an extra 250 gallon tank and filling it up. All the water from 24 tractor trailer rigs run to a storm drain. Luckily the storm drain is a couple hundred feet away and is minimum. I noticed Illinois epa rules for washing are very simple and easy to understand. Question: Do you think blocking drains is good enough or should we pull each truck over an area and reclaim? The rules say block drains. RIght???
 
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