24 Jan Wash Water Recovery Using A Vacuum Reclaim System
If environmental compliance is important to you and your facility, the technique, and equipment for wash water recovery using a vacuum reclaim system is the answer for pressure washing. Pro Wash, LLC has the experience and equipment to provide impressive end results after pressure washing. We also meet or exceed the environmental protection agencies (EPA) recommended practices regarding wash water recovery and control.
Click here to view the Environmental Protection Agencies “Clean Water Act of 1972”
Any substrate from concrete parking lots to multi-story building exteriors may require the dirty wash water to be recaptured and disposed of in accordance with the “Clean Water Act of 1972”. The Pro Wash team is highly trained and equipped to fully comply with National, state and local municipalities best management practices (BMP’S) regarding waste water disposal.
Why We Use Wash Water Recovery.
Concrete and many other porous surfaces hold and trap oils, heavy metals, automotive fluids, cleaning agents and other non-eco-friendly particles. When these surfaces are cleaned, the contaminants that settle on the surface are lifted and suspended in the wash water. If this contaminated water reaches storm drains it will likely find its way into local rivers, lakes, and streams. Reclaiming the wash water allows us to direct the pollutants to exactly where they need to go for proper disposal.
Authorities, federal and state, have increased enforcement in the Nashville area over the last few years. More and more citations and fines are being issued for noncompliance when it comes to wash water discharge. These fines not only affect the pressure washing contractor but can also be applied to building owners as well.
Pro Wash, LLC strives to be on the fore front of environmental compliance. We obtain the ability to complete small or large scale power washing projects while keeping the environment safe from contaminants and eliminating non-compliance fines.
How We Use Vacuum Reclaim Systems.
Our industrial gas engine powered vacuum systems are powerful enough reclaim massive amounts of dirty water and simultaneously filter out the oil, heavy solids, silt, and sludge. The filtered water is then discharged into holding tanks to be hauled off site or discharged into the facilities sanitary sewer system after the PH levels have been appropriately adjusted.
There are several ways that the contaminated wash water recovery can be introduced into our filtration systems including vacuum surface cleaners, suction berms, vacuum scupper devices, and vacuum squeegee wands. To learn more about how our vacuum reclaim systems operate, Click here.
- Use of a vacuum recovery surface cleaner. This machine is similar to a standard surface cleaner attachment but has built in vacuum capabilities. The high-pressure water is forced through the cleaning nozzles to clean the surface and is immediately vacuumed up and pumped through the filtration system.
- Vacuum suction berms. These berms range from 3’ long to 12’ long and have small holes which allow water to be pulled through them and introduced to the filtration system. These small holes also act as an initial filtration device to prohibit items like rocks, cigarette butts and leaves from entering the vacuum system. These suction berms are typically placed at the lowest elevation of the area being cleaned so that all of the runoff water will eventually end up in the filtration system.
- Vacuum wand attachment. Occasionally, there is no easy way to capture the water used to clean with. This especially true when cleaning walls, ceilings, tanks or any other vertical or overhead surface. This is where having multiple vacuum lines is a huge benefit because 2-3 technicians can use a traditional style squeegee vacuum wand to remove large amounts of water from the surface as soon as it runs off of the vertical surface being cleaned.
- In most pressure washing scenarios, a combination of the above methods yields the most efficient and effective water reclaim results. There are other methods as well, including suction scuppers used in conjunction with solid berms and devices that fit over floor drains that allow us to take advantage of built in drainage slopes without allowing dirty water to enter the drain.
Our main focus is to provide outstanding exterior cleaning results while ensuring that we do our part in keeping Nashville area waterways clean for ourselves and future generations alike.