Think 'Only Rain Down the Drain' is the Law? Think Again
by fayth shelton
Here's How to Protect Our Water and Your Business"
You might have heard the saying, "Only rain down the drain." It suggests that nothing but rainwater can go into storm drains and waterways. While it's a good reminder to be mindful of stormwater pollution, it's not actually federal law. This phrase is mainly used by cities and towns to encourage people to protect water quality and implement pollution prevention practices. It is meant to keep people from dumping garbage, oil, and other contaminants in the storm drain, as many people did years ago without knowing better. It was never meant to imply that ONLY rain is allowed in the drain, but that rain is the ONLY thing that should go down the drain.
The Reality: The Clean Water Act, NPDES Permits, and BMPs
The truth is, it's impossible to completely stop pollution from entering our rivers and streams. Every time it rains, pollutants from streets and sidewalks wash into waterways, creating nonpoint source pollution. That's why the Clean Water Act was created. It aims to protect our water by setting up a system to regulate how MUCH pollution is allowed, keeping a balance between keeping waters clean and keeping a modern society running smoothly.
A key part of the Clean Water Act is the NPDES permit system. NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Think of it as a system for managing pollution that enters our waters. The EPA and the Clean Water Act also encourage using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize environmental impact.
What's an NPDES Permit?
An NPDES permit is a regulatory tool that allows certain entities (like big factories, some businesses, and local governments) to discharge a limited and monitored amount of pollutants into waterways while adhering to specific water quality standards. It's not a free pass to pollute; it's a way to control and monitor pollution through specific effluent limitations.
Who Needs an NPDES Permit?
Big polluters: Large factories, cement plants, auto recycling facilities, and other industries with significant potential to pollute usually need their own NPDES permits. These are often considered industrial stormwater permits.
Some towns and cities: Towns, cities, and counties with over 100,000 people typically have their own MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit.
Most businesses: Most businesses don't need their own permit. They are usually covered under their state, county, or city's permit. They are expected to adhere to stormwater regulations and implement appropriate BMPs. Implementing BMPs protects the environment and helps businesses avoid fines and maintain a positive reputation.
Why are NPDES Permits and BMPs Important?
They limit pollution: Permits set specific limits on the amount of pollutants (discharge limits) that can be released. BMPs help reduce pollutants at the source.
They require monitoring: Permit holders must regularly monitor their wastewater and report the results.
They protect our water: Thanks to the Clean Water Act, NPDES permits, and the implementation of BMPs, many of our rivers and lakes are much cleaner today than they were decades ago. They have become fishable and swimmable again.
What About Mobile Cleaning Businesses (Like Pressure Washing Companies)?
Mobile power washing businesses, like pressure washing companiesand mobile auto detailing services, usually don't need their own NPDES permits. It wouldn't be possible to apply for a permit, since they work in many different locations. Instead, they are expected to follow the rules set by the local government (city, county, or state) that holds the NPDES permit for that area sure-washing BMPs to prevent pollution. Most large cities or metropolitan areas publish their BMPs to make companies' compliance easy. However, many municipalities provide washing companies with no guidance at all.
How Can Products Like BatGuard Pro Help Pressure Washing Companies?
This is where innovative products like the BatGuard Pro from FaythWorx come in. The BatGuard Pro is a specialized ground level filtration system designed to help pressure washing contractors, mobile detailers, and other cleaning professionals comply with stormwater regulations and implement effective Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Here's how it helps:
Contains and Filters Runoff: BatGuard Pro effectively captures and filters pressure washing wastewater runoff, filtering out pollutants like soaps, oil, grease, heavy metals, and debris. It is the only mobile, ground-level system on the market that can filter out not just oils and grease, but also heavy metals, phosphates, and other common pollutants to near-drinking water quality, making it an ideal solution for pressure washing and surface cleaning. The roots of this technology come from the same filtration systems used to clean the Gulf Oil Spill
Meets EPA Guidelines: BatGuard Pro helps you meet EPA guidelines, such as the Clean Water Act, by providing a simple and effective way to contain waste and debris, thus making it an important part of your local BMPs, as implemented by your Stormwater Authority.
Modular and Versatile: Its modular design allows for flexible configurations: use it to create berms, surround storm drain inlets for filtered inlet protection, or line curbs to contain runoff. Unlike passive barriers like oil socks or berms that simply block water, or float to capture oils, allowing other contaminants to reach the drain, the BatGuard Pro actively filters all of the heaviest part of the runoff (the water), allowing cleaned water to pass through while trapping pollutants for easy dry disposal in a dumpster. It reduces the need for vacuuming up water, which can further contribute to air pollution, with extra motors required for vacuums. The transport costs and danger of transporting UNTREATED waste water from a cleaning site, risking a spill on the roadways is one of the factors that has caused many municipalities to turn to BatGuard products themselves, for their own cleaning use.
Easy to Use and Transport: Designed for practicality, the BatGuard Pro is lightweight, portable, and easy to set up and use, making it perfect for mobile pressure washing operations.The BatGuard Pro system is a compact and portable solution that takes up minimal space on your service truck or your janitorial closet. Designed for durability and ease of use, a single BatGuard Pro can last up to a year or more under moderate commercial use, is simple and fast to deploy and clean, and is tough enough to withstand the rigors of a job site. It can be run over with a truck, and still will not release contaminants that are molecularly bonded to the media.
Reusable and Durable: Built to last, the BatGuard Pro components are reusable and made from durable materials, providing a cost-effective stormwater management solution for your business. Unlike competing “oil only booms”, the BatGuard line of products are weighted to stay on the ground to filter every drop that goes through it. Each BatGuard has a reflective strip so that environmentally concerned neighbors and regulators can easily see that you are doing your part to keep our waters clean,
Source Control: The BatGuard Pro is an effective way to control pollution at the source, preventing it from ever entering the storm drain system.
Does the EPA Crack Down on Everyone?
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) oversees the Clean Water Act, and they provide guidance on how to achieve the goals of the CWA through the implementation of stormwater control measures. The EPA doesn't usually go after individuals or small businesses for minor violations. They focus on repeat offenders, major polluters, or cases that attract a lot of public attention (like a large fish kill). The EPA does not set forth specific rules or regulations on HOW the goals of the CWA are achieved. This is where your local Stormwater Authority comes in. They set the rules and guidelines in your area.
Fayth Shelton, of Faythworx has a ten year history of working with jurisdictions all over the country in determining requirements, and showing authorities the benefits of using ground level filtration as an alternative to transporting waste water. Thus far, there haven’t been any areas in the country where filtration for routine maintenance-based cleaning was not received in a positive manner by authorities, Of course there will always be times when vacuuming up waste water is required, such as certain chemical spills, or jobs requiring chemicals that cannot be filtered, or cleaning at especially sensitive areas. But those are few and far between in the world of maintenance cleaning.
The Bottom Line:
The Clean Water Act, NPDES permits, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are designed to protect our water by controlling pollution. While the "only rain down the drain" message is a helpful reminder, it's not the whole story. The NPDES permit system allows for a practical balance between protecting the environment and allowing necessary activities to continue. The NPDES system has been set up to allow industry to function, while still protecting the water.
Using tools like the BatGuard Pro helps pressure washing professionals, restaurant owners, gas station owners and a variety of mobile cleaning businesses operate responsibly, comply with regulations, implement effective BMPs, and contribute to cleaner water for everyone. oil sock as bmp
