Wash water capturing....

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Just curious how many of you have tried these water and sand dikes, and most if not all of the drain covers? It seems to me that they are for the most part unaffective. Water filled dikes are a joke. They dont dike anything and leak and tear. Sand dikes work a little better but if a drain was anywhere near, you might as well not even put it down. The water filled drain covers do not work. Water seeps under them and not even a fraction of that water can be recovered. I have used the soft compound type drain covers that work but they are several hundred dollars each and are easily ruined if folded together or left in the sunlight too long. The vacubooms work great SOMETIMES, most of the time, the suction isnt right or the pump out kicks on and it stopps sucking and all that flow goes right underneath ruining any chance of a full recovery. I'm just curious if anyone is a little worried with the industry leaders pushing all this enviro stuff when we dont really have good enough equipment on the market to contain the wash water anyway. You can build all this great looking equipment to suck, filter, discharge, treat, and all that good stuff but how exactly do you plan on us capturing it? I've been in the business just as long as most of you old timers and I've tried everything out there just to contain the flow. I just want to warn some of you enviro talkers, you may be getting in over your head a little, get out and try some of your methods before pushing them. Same goes for you distributors... If anyone is hearing me, I am yelling. I know most of you have your business name on the line and want to appear like you recover. I understand that. I really do. But...I laugh everytime I see someone here talk about how they recover properly. I'd like to see some of that recovery process, not where the water flows to a drain like in a bathtub, common applications where it goes everywhere, the earth is round.... I dont mean to sound like an ass, I'm just not in some cloud thinking this is as easy as most of the distributors want you to believe it is. My 2 cents.
 
No the process is not always easy and it can cost money, the items I use I see as a business expense, just like hose, guns, injectors... There are ways to make it easier and less problematic. I have made custom drain inserts for various jobs to eliminate the vacuum and just use a sump pump. I have also invested in some higher quality drain guards designed for fuel spill containment which have lasted much longer than the cheap ones. And yes the water does not always flow where you want it and you need to set up multiple berming/pickup devices it is a PITA but if you want the job sometimes you have to do it.

I agree the water dikes and sand berms are not the best by any means, but they are an inexpensive way to start and be compliant with the laws. The Vacuboom is not without its own problems but if you set it up right and do things like use a defoamer prior to pickup you can eliminate a lot of the issues. Furthermore I will say that no equipment is without issues, just look at your pressure washer it will breakdown or need maint. from time to time.

I wouldn't put the blame on the industry leaders for pushing the enviro stuff either, that is the Federal Govt. and EPA putting the restrictions on. Your leaders are fighting to make the regulations as easy as possible to comply with, and your distributors are just trying to offer the best solutions they can come up with.

Don't get me wrong I am not disagreeing with you about it being difficult. I loved the days of pulling up to a job rolling out the hose, washing and leaving in 10 min, but those days are gone. If you have any ideas on what would work better I would love to make it because I agree it is a PITA but it has to be done.
 
No the process is not always easy and it can cost money, the items I use I see as a business expense, just like hose, guns, injectors... There are ways to make it easier and less problematic. I have made custom drain inserts for various jobs to eliminate the vacuum and just use a sump pump. I have also invested in some higher quality drain guards designed for fuel spill containment which have lasted much longer than the cheap ones.

Paul do you retail the custom ones on your site?
 
I can fully understand Terry's position and am likewise concerned. If suitable infrastructure is not in place, whether it the actual plumbing drainage systems of the country or reasonable priced equipment offerings that work, then contractors deserve exemptions from too aggressive regulation no different then an individual or public entity trying to keep their properties clean of gross buidup that is likely worse for the enviroment once mother nature has her say...
Go out your front door on a Sat and let us know how many people are washing their cars or drives. Go out at night to your local transit stations or downtown areas and let us know what ya see. I see blow and go type washing of long strip areas in my area.
I have to disagree Paul... them days are not over, I see them all the time. I understand your point of coping though. I just prefure it not at the expense of thousands and thaousands of washers ability to earn a living.
 
Paul do you retail the custom ones on your site?

We have a complete in house fab facility that can make just about anything you want, so yes. I want to put some of them on the site, just haven't had time yet...on my to do list.
 
I can fully understand Terry's position and am likewise concerned. If suitable infrastructure is not in place, whether it the actual plumbing drainage systems of the country or reasonable priced equipment offerings that work, then contractors deserve exemptions from too aggressive regulation no different then an individual or public entity trying to keep their properties clean of gross buidup that is likely worse for the enviroment once mother nature has her say...
Go out your front door on a Sat and let us know how many people are washing their cars or drives. Go out at night to your local transit stations or downtown areas and let us know what ya see. I see blow and go type washing of long strip areas in my area.
I have to disagree Paul... them days are not over, I see them all the time. I understand your point of coping though. I just prefure it not at the expense of thousands and thaousands of washers ability to earn a living.

You are correct the days of people washing like that are not completely over and there are people out washing their cars. Most of the regs that I see exempt homeowners, but their are established procedures required by both federal and state laws for commercial contractors and businesses. Now they might not always require full recollection but you do have to do certain things to be compliant.

I too am a washing contractor and I don't like it an better than you it is time consuming and an expense I would rather not have. I would much rather put a few thousand in my pocket instead of equipment but if you are going to be in the industry and want to avoid some hefty fines you need to follow the BMP's for your state. Is there too much regulation..YES but until we have our voices herd we will have to follow the law.
 
..and a big amen to that Paul..I like what ya said there!

It's a frustrating matter. Sometimes folks come out the wood work up in arms and others it's like take it in the shorts as action seems futile. Red tape and majority of outside forces that tend to be either indifferent or straight up strict on everything enviro seems overwhelming. What can one little contractor or vendor do to make a difference we may ask.. Am unsure but I would tend to side with sticking in numbers and weed out forces that divide. I have not had chance to look at the Fort Worth bmp that Hinderliter talked about at the bama rt but maybe spreading it around or one even less restrictive is the way to go. I still don't like it as it's accomodation of unreasonable legislation. Since we're talking bmp maybe we'll get that bama video up even though I see no call for it or interest.To put a word to it I would say folks are disenchanted.
 
Video of my Clean and Recovery incline Vac working at the Bama 09 Round table.
That is 10 gpm at 3200psi - we use a 500cfm blower to vac and not a drop of water escapes.

I have had to modify my Deublin 18" Steel Eagle castors as they only last a month tops - I use Radicle inline skate wheels, each wheel has 2 double sealed bearings. Brushes are expensive so I fixed the wheel problem instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RIBiTTh6E
 
Nick at Magnum has a system that runs off of a 25 hp Kohler that evacs and filters down to a dry, burnable waste. I have never seen a reclaim system except for his so I cannot compare it to anything else.

http://www.magnumclean.com/force.shtml

Thanks, I spoke with Nick Last year, he did say that they were in the process of designing their own reclaim and recycle units soon. (I always liked the look of his trailers, one of the few manufacturers who roll their own coils)

I felt that I wanted more options than the three companies that manufacture engine driven industrial blower systems for the pressure wash industry.

Steel Eagle (very nice) roots blowers
Sirocco Vacuums sutorbilt blowers
Silver Eagle roots blowers

I am sure their are others, if you know of other manufacturers please add them.
 
Video of my Clean and Recovery incline Vac working at the Bama 09 Round table.
That is 10 gpm at 3200psi - we use a 500cfm blower to vac and not a drop of water escapes.

I have had to modify my Deublin 18" Steel Eagle castors as they only last a month tops - I use Radicle inline skate wheels, each wheel has 2 double sealed bearings. Brushes are expensive so I fixed the wheel problem instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RIBiTTh6E


Thats good info, did you contact Steel Eagle so that they could fix/upgrade the casters?

I did not know that steel eagle makes an 18" surface cleaner.

Typically what is the maximum length of hose you can run before the vacuum looses it effectiveness at your rated 10 gpm @ 3200psi?
 
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