Water Recovery And Keeping Debris From Storm Drains

We’ve written a few articles about water recovery recently and how it’s becoming more important in Colorado.

And we all become more aware of the things that are upper most in our mind.

Entering A Small Construction Site

I recently drove past a very small construction site in my neighborhood. They were working on a transformer and had dug up a little of the surrounding dirt. They had filter bags in the gutter and around the storm drain.

You may have noticed the little green and orange bags laying next to storm drains and wondered what they are. Since I started noticing them, it seems every construction site has them.

Filter Bags In The Gutter

These filter bags are designed to prevent dirt and debris from entering the storm drains. And they’re being used everywhere there’s a potential for dirty runoff. I’ve even seen landscape companies using them when they’re working along the road.

Obviously, leaves and grass are the kind of things that normally get into the storm drain. But it’s becoming much more important to try to prevent as much debris as you can from getting into the storm sewer so the water that goes downstream is kept as clean as possible.

Filter Bags Around A Storm Drain Instead Of Water Recovery

Storm sewers run straight into the river where sanitary sewers (the ones that connect to the plumbing in houses and buildings) go to the water treatment plant.

The Clean Water Action Plan of 2010 was the EPA‘s update to the Clean Water Act of 1972 and it raised the bar for everyone. There is not only increased awareness of water issues but increasing enforcement of violations, too.

Water recovery for pressure washing operations is included in these regulations. We have to make sure our runoff doesn’t reach the storm drains. We have to collect the waste water, filter it, and dispose of it properly.

We just added a new client for our truck washing service because they now have to have water recovery on their site. The company that did their truck wash before didn’t have the capability to provide water recovery.

So whether it’s a grease spill cleanup, restaurant pressure washing, truck washing, or other service, you need a company that’s on top of the water recovery regulations to keep you in compliance.

Make sure the pressure washing company you hire does water recovery the right way.