Containing the mess
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
Containing the mess
Okay- I want to buy a pressure washer, and I have a lot of uses for it, one being cleaning up old truck chassis'. But how do I contain/control all the crud I blast off? We live on a retention pond, and if I hose it into the gutter, it'll end up in the pond. I ususally clean stuff at a self-serve car wash; should I bring the pressure washer along and do it there? Will they kill me if they catch me?
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,104
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
I would do an informal check with the local health department....this can really get ugly (in Calif) and other states have similiar regs but enforcement can vary. In Ca for example, you can be cited by County Health, Fire or police for illegal disposal of hazardous waste if you clean a dirty engine in the self service bays......check befor doing!
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, WA
You might find some ideas at the power wash network.
http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=6875
I could probably put a little weatherstripping on a big piece of lumber and divert the runoff to a grassy area near the driveway. All the new parking lots I see use this technique and call it a "biofilter swale." That would work for me because my driveway is sloped enough to get the water moving and because I don't have ground water contamination concerns (no wells in my area).
If you can't do that, then you may be able to do something like what Dave (#3) is doing minus the 500 gallon tank. Just route the hose into your sewer. I don't know how that would affect a septic system, though.
No matter what ideas you get, run it past your local authorities. Where I live the county has an office to field this kind of question and they would rather advise you than have to cite you.
http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=6875
I could probably put a little weatherstripping on a big piece of lumber and divert the runoff to a grassy area near the driveway. All the new parking lots I see use this technique and call it a "biofilter swale." That would work for me because my driveway is sloped enough to get the water moving and because I don't have ground water contamination concerns (no wells in my area).
If you can't do that, then you may be able to do something like what Dave (#3) is doing minus the 500 gallon tank. Just route the hose into your sewer. I don't know how that would affect a septic system, though.
No matter what ideas you get, run it past your local authorities. Where I live the county has an office to field this kind of question and they would rather advise you than have to cite you.
