The cops in my area are busy with actual criminals

If your being turned in for washing your drive, you need new neighbors.

What about all the vehicles driving down the streets dripping oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid and then it rains and all that residue washes into the storm drains?

@brianwest5348

3 жыл бұрын

It's just a money game!

Yesterday I power-washed about 10sq feet of my driveway (trying out a new attachment). Now I’m getting videos in my recommendations about the legality of power-washing my driveway. Can’t do anything without Google watching.

Depends on where you live. Here in Wyoming, the police dispatcher will tell the complainer to move back to California.

In 90% of areas, you probably won't get fined unless you are putting some serious stuff down the drains

Imagine pressure washing and 2 swat vans and a helicopter with an expert sniper pulls up to ur house arresting u 😂

I’ve never heard of pressure washing my drive way being illegal.

@hhattingh

5 жыл бұрын

Strange days my friend...strange days

@HowTowithDoc

5 жыл бұрын

www.cmmonline.com/articles/pressure-washing-and-epa-fines

@napier630

5 жыл бұрын

There has always been strict focus on water reclamation. As a mobile auto detailer in high population areas they face run off issues all the time. Its nothing new. I will say with roof cleaning.... that has gained alot of interest from the states, and is becoming a regulated service. All employees who do the work have to be trained and certified.

@RutherfordNJDrywallRepair

5 жыл бұрын

How about if you use environmental friendly cleaners?

@normandegeorge6526

5 жыл бұрын

Patrick Ian he must live in California

I spent over 20 years in the waste water industry and you're mostly right. There are 3 or 4 separate levels of environmental agencies and some duplication at most levels. There is the federal EPA but the federal Fish and Wildlife Service also has an interest. There will also be multiple state agencies. Each state has an EPA analog and a Fish and Wildlife analog, possibly with name variations. Many states have other agencies involved such as Public Health and an agency dealing with water resources. In California there are at least 4 separate state agencies involved. Then there will be one or two county agencies and, if you live in a city, one or two city agencies you have to keep happy. Anywhere from 5 to 12 or more separate agencies. Most places still have storm drains going to a stream, river, or the ocean but not all. More and more places are starting to do some form of treatment to their storm runoff. That change has been in the books for quite a while but due to the enormous expense of converting over it hasn't been pushed too much. In some places that's as simple runoff catch basins or a long channel of water plants that absorb the contaminants with any nutrients before it discharges to the river. Some places have what is known as a combined system where storm runoff flows into the sanitary sewage system and is treated at the sewage treatment plants. And instead of a towel try to get an absorbent pig. They block the water better than a wet towel and absorb and hold many types of contaminants.

Screw That. Ain’t no police riding around writing tickets for that.

@supergoober1021

5 жыл бұрын

InDatParish Police are not involved with water discharge issues. No, there are more serious agencies on top of that. I WISH it was just the cops.

@MustangGuru

5 жыл бұрын

In an HOA they will

@saber-jocky3436

5 жыл бұрын

@@MustangGuru Most HOA's will fine you for not cleaning your driveway and sidewalks. Where exactly do you live?

This is exactly why I tarp my driveway before every rain shower. Wouldn’t want any of that icky driveway water to get into the storm drain.

...this is exactly why I only power wash my driveway after midnight

@CitizenPerkins

4 жыл бұрын

👍👍 🤣🤣🤣

@Methodical2

4 жыл бұрын

@@CitizenPerkins Yeah, but then you will get a noise pollution ticket.

"99% efficient" as its running down the gutter behind him

It very well may be illegal, but I have NEVER heard of it being enforced anywhere in Florida.

Oh and don’t tear off those mattress tags either!!

@jonathanbullman7058

5 жыл бұрын

This is actually illegal for the seller of mattresses not the purchaser. They used to stuff mattresses with anything so the gov made it illegal to not have a tag displaying what materials it contains

@Bharlos

4 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanbullman7058 Exactly, once it's in your hands you can do what you want.

@anonymousfriend897

4 жыл бұрын

I stuff my mattress with dollar bills.

I lived in a municipality that wanted me to pave my gravel driveway. I got out of it by playing the environment card about runoff and whatnot.

Ok Doc, I understand the environmental concerns, but, this is going over board. Except in California. I'm not worried about the EPA driving by my house and checking my run off if I'm washing my car or power washing my driveway. I hope they got more important issue's to address. I'd be more concerned about fertilizer run off reaching the drain, from all the various yard/grass chemicals.

@harley092355

5 жыл бұрын

john g don’t forget storm water locals guys!

Why are you limiting this to power washing? Man-made-discharge would simply be any water from the hose regardless of pressure. So it's illegal to even wash your car...?

@76MUTiger

5 жыл бұрын

That was my thought... "man made discharges" could include washing my car, rinsing out the wheelbarrow, hosing off my lawn mower, etc. This seems pretty authoritarian. (Not your fault, Doc). Thanks for the info.

@tstaur6052

5 жыл бұрын

In California, yes. You must reclaim the water.

@kevinnoble5988

5 жыл бұрын

In parts of South California they even regulate what days and time periods you can water your lawn. Having a hose without a nozzle that can shut off is illegal as is using just a hose to wash your driveway. They want you to take your car to a self serve car wash where the water can be reclaimed also. Been there and had to deal with that fixing up my 100 year old grandmother's house.

@leemats2572

4 жыл бұрын

I produce manmade discharge

@jerichoron

4 жыл бұрын

No nut washing either

Lol, if my neighbor reports me for this, I'm not calling the fire department if I see smoke at his house.

i wash my driveway while listening to judas priest, breakin the law breakin the law!

"Auto bilge pump" is what he said in case you're wondering. I couldn't understand him so I got a close up of the pump

Never in my life have I ever seen and EPA cop so It's a non-issue.

In our Great Lakes state, municipalities dump tons of salt and sodium chloride on the roads during the winter. All runs off into storm drains and road easements. Polluting the streams and river systems, shortening the life of roads and bridges, and rusting out expensive cars and especially trucks.

@richdiddens4059

5 жыл бұрын

Uhh... salt IS sodium chloride.

@bondpit8750

5 жыл бұрын

Rich Diddens uhh, you’re right, lol. I meant sodium chloride brine that is sprayed vs the rock salt mix that’s also and more commonly applied. And the brine really sticks to your vehicle undercarriage. Nasty corrosive

@bailey2624

5 жыл бұрын

@@bondpit8750 its destroyed my f150 and now my van is pretty trashed. think next vehicle i buy i need to apply a spray undercoat to the frame

@mw3757

4 жыл бұрын

Does Michigan require a pollution retrieving system like this?

@jerichoron

4 жыл бұрын

I think it has something to do with all the snow and ice.

One of the few times that it's good to have my driveway slope toward my house instead of away. No runoff issues. Power washed my truck in my driveway just yesterday. Good info though, thanks Doc!

Thanks for info. You just saved me thousands. I live in California so I need a reclaim system to pressure wash. This is truly cost effective.

In VA, you can only allow runoff if the drain leads to a sanitary sewer (same as what your home drains to). If it has a marker for storm drain or water way, or has a fish logo, NO NO.

Pressure washing 20 plus years. Doing a cops house , usually gets you some more jobs from other cops on the dept. Never used a bilge pump except on the boat here in Florida.

My house , my driveway i pressure wash whenever i want

Did you adhere to this when you pressure washed your driveway in the other video you posted?

WOW!!! You're the ONLY person who has mentioned the "legality" angle. I immediately Googled it for our area. It's EXACTLY as you stated it. AND, we WERE going to buy a power washer (electric). In the meantime, we WERE going to hire someone to do it the first time Probably dodged a fine, during these " tired of winning" times. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Lol. So the city is breaking there own laws?

@supergoober1021

5 жыл бұрын

No, the city is enforcing their own municipal code to avoid causing them to violate the general EPA permit under which they must operate. There are so many layers of bureaucracy, it takes years to meet all the inspectors that will drop by to cite you. Some are sequential and some are parallel.

@featheredcoyote5477

4 жыл бұрын

Yep. I work for my local government highway dept. And we wash concrete medians down with a fire hose and it washes straight into the sewer drains. For god sakes, do we send mother nature a fine when she decides to rain on our driveways and streets. I'm glad here in Indiana, this has never been enforced.

I have a neighbor that drains their pool almost every week... all week long. Like a river of water all the time. I think I'll be okay.

That lawn looks fantastic. So what’s the difference between rain runoff and power washing your driveway with just water?

That’s interesting. For that matter, washing your car in your driveway can result in fines too. It just depends on how strict the local government/EPA wants to be.

I think, to actually be compliant in "reclaiming" that water needs to be pumpwd to a tank and filtered before being pumped back out to the ground... That being said this is a good idea for driveways that have a big dip in the apron so you van pump it out to be able to pressure wash that area with out having to wait for tons of water to drain...

So, what kind of a filter system could you use to reclaim and treat the water first?

I’ve owned a pressure washing business 13 years and I’ve washed miles and miles of concrete including driveways (using bleach) and I’ve never had a problem

@shaggyhascancer4489

4 жыл бұрын

Yes but bleach in the storm and rain gutters goes to the rivers. It’s not good to put bleach into the environment.

@jamesdebaca6878

4 жыл бұрын

I thought bleach just breaks back down into saltwater or something

I worked at a company that sold pressure washer and all the equipment and chemicals that go along with it. Always had guys from California calling about solutions to keep water from going down the drains. Easiest and cheapest way was like how you did. But i suggested the Simer 3/4" Submersible Pump and some Heavy duty vinyl dams we had made up that you could roll out and fill with water to stop or direct the water flow to where you wanted. Sizes went from small like sand bag size to 60 ft.long. Then just attach a garden hose to the pump and put the water back on the yard unless you used harsh chemicals...

Thank you very much for this video! I never knew these facts! Great videos Doc, I always learn a lot from your videos. I understand it isn’t illegal to power wash my driveway, that I would just need to reclaim the water before it reaches the city/county storm drain to possible avoid a fine.

Great water reclamation! Now you will get fined for creating a 'trip-hazard' across the sidewalk. Wherever they are enforcing this law about water reaching the storm drain would more than likely fine you for having a hose going across the sidewalk as well. Most likely California. . .

@kckdude913

4 жыл бұрын

Doesn't look like California to me

Doc great video. When treating a wood fence. Would suggest using a pool cleaner/water mix to clean? 3 part water 1 part pool cleaner?

I'm not saying you're wrong. Is there a so gle instance of a homeowner bei g prosecuted for this though? Especially in certain states. I live in Indiana and I've never heard of this. I've seen people get warnings for dumping oil before but even that is rare out here. It's technically illegal to spit on the streets in certain cities but if it's never enforced is it really?

Thanks for this tip! Code enforcement gave me a pass because I took your advice.

I am so far away from a drain that the water will dry up before it even gets out lol.

Clarity on KZread is rare indeed. Thanks good job 👍

EPA showed up at our firehouse and said we could not clean the rigs in the street. Water would run into the storm drain. Didn't get a fine but just have to clean the rigs inside now. Water goes in the drain but it's just goes into the sewer now I believe.

@martybadboy

5 жыл бұрын

Most likely yours would go to an oil seperator and discharge to the sanitary sewer.

I want to thank you for taking the time out to do these videos. It is greatly appreciated

I did 10 years for Illegal distribution of pressure washing equipment!

@whatsgoingontv4959

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

Great video... this is a major issue with people power washing old houses with lead base paint!

Wow, recently I just power washed my entire 3 car garage driveway. Question, I've been washing my car on my drive way for a very long time using car detergent, is this illegal as well?

Never have a problem in AZ I don't use chemicals ever and because I use the pressure washer I only use a fraction of the water compared to say a garden hose. Also when u do it at 110 degrees outside the water is lucky to last say to neighbors house and within an hour it had evaporated completely!

Well that was nine minutes I’ll never get back.

God can you imagine having this guy as a neighbor? One of my worst fears is living near someone like this

@HowTowithDoc

3 жыл бұрын

Be over for dinner

But now you are violating soil conservation laws lol

That lawn is jaw dropping 👌🏽

I’m sure what you’re saying is true. Now....please show us one example of someone getting fined for this..... Knowing the difference between written law and practical application is priceless.

@HowTowithDoc

5 жыл бұрын

www.cmmonline.com/articles/pressure-washing-and-epa-fines

@HowTowithDoc

5 жыл бұрын

The phone call to my local EPA office was on a homeowner level. So... call, as a homeowner, your local office and ask them. They will state the same. It is illegal for the homeowner to powerwash the drive and allow it to go in the runoff. Hugs and Kisses.

Never heard of it. So what happens when it rains and it washes into the storm drain?

Hello there, great videos! Maybe you can help me with a question I have. I have a customer with a large oil stain on the road at the foot of their driveway. I know you cannot let this run off into the storm water drain while cleaning. What do you recommend I do in this situation? I do not want environmental fines.

Your right, but not highly enforced due to a lack of man power. Commercial truck washing in my state is enforced and must be reclaimed. Good info Doc!

Awesome video. Is the pump strong enough to pump the water about 5 ft to a water tote in a trailer?

Crazy! I’ve never heard of this law. I can understand the part about using chemicals, but just power washing with just water, I mean isn’t the gunk on the driveway the same gunk that’s on the street? Why is it a problem? But then I don’t change my oil and let it dump all over the driveway or mix hazardous chemicals in my driveway.

I mean. The apartment complex one house away from me has some sort of purge system built into its sprinklers and it dumps a ton of water all the time in the summer. And it goes straight to the storm drain.

I have to reclaim all the water I use for car wash/mobile detail. Just use water/sand berms to hold the water til it evaporates or steer it into landscaping. It’s big in San Diego because I work within 10 miles of the ocean most days. Also, you can use a Shop Vac to grab water f low areas, they make berm attachments for them too.

Wouldn’t the chemicals being sprayed on your lawn or woods just be as bad too.

Excellent solutions provide by Mr. How to With Doc congrats.

Thank you for the clearing things up.

These types of ordinances and laws are typically not enforced in areas that treat runoff. Most municipalities that are large enough to have a wastewater treatment plant around here treat their runoff.

omg .. here in AU no such issues. I literally just did my drive AND my curbside this morning, looks amazing.

Hey doc i really appreciate all your videos and hands down you are doing an amazing job. Secondly do you have any tips for driveways and brick work stained with iron? This is a big issue here in Hampton roads in Virginia.

I got that Harbor Freight green power washer with max. 1750 psi...what surface cleaner would you recommend for it.

do i need to have 4 years of journeyman experience to start my Pressure washing in California. I read that on internet but I dont know if is that true. Any idea?

That “natural area” is in the watershed, too, just a bit farther out of sight.

Wow never thought about this but my neighbor drains their pool into the street usually twice a year

@notsure7874

4 жыл бұрын

There is no reason to draini a pool twice / year that I can think of.

You sure aint the only one who gets yelled at for using towels, or special drinking glasses, or pillows etc

Excellent video. Informative and entertaining. Also spoken in a voice that's not a droning monotone.

Have absolutely never heard of such. I mean I get want you are saying. So what about washing your car in the driveway? What if the water doesn’t make it to the drain? Are you liable for when your dirty water they doesn’t make it to the drain dries and is reactivated with rain a month later?

@ReppinCTandATL

5 жыл бұрын

Dustin Walden Gwinnett County GA has ordinances regarding pressure washing and car washing. No soap allowed in storm drains.

All depends on where you live. There is a company that cleans roofs and catch’s the water.

I have a question regarding the charge. Do you charge for the size of the driveway or what size garage it does have.

Are you in GA doc? tremendous videos. Thank you very much sir.

What do you suggest for startups pressure washing business

This must be state specific. I’m a water distribution operator in California, and just went through our yearly BMP safety training a few weeks ago. The topic of wash basin recovery systems were discussed for only commercial applications, which included vehicle washing, pressure washing, or any kind of water runoff. Residential is excluded from any of these conditions throughout the state. The state is more concerned about chemical by-product being introduced into the watershed or groundwater from commercial or agricultural than residential, and this is California!

@HowTowithDoc

5 жыл бұрын

If you call your local EPA / water office, they will confirm. Pressure washing driveways and allowing that water to enter the rainwater runoff system is illegal. It's nationwide.

Interesting. In South Africa I've never heard of this but the problem would be using too much water because some areas are permanently in drought. I never use any chemicals and I am very considerate to not let dirty water run to my neighbours. It goes down my own yard and then onto grass at the backm

Thanks for this; I came here looking for general instruction and didn't even think about protecting the groundwater. Looks like a simple, responsible solution!

Thank you. That's simple and brilliant.

Thanks, I’ve always just used water, but this is good to know!

I only use water to pressure wash my driveway. IMO, it's no different than the rain water that goes from my driveway. I seldom wash my car, but I do use detergent for that, and the water and suds goes to a drain like you pictured in the video. I guess I need to wash my car in other locations, as the drains in our neighborhood go directly to a creek that flows thru it. Good video and info. I've been doing this for years, so I'm going to be more aware of what I've been doing wrong that might affect the environment. There has never been any fish or minnows in the creek, so not sure how much it harms anything. Thanks for your knowledge on this. Good video and I always enjoy them.

That's why I do it on raining days 😂🤣

@HowTowithDoc

4 жыл бұрын

That's what she said.

Thankfully I live in the crunchy. Screw HOA; It's real America out here.

@georgef5728

4 жыл бұрын

Has nothing to do with an HOA, this is your federal government’s Clean Water Act

@themanic6575

4 жыл бұрын

@BGary B Reading this comment made me lose brain cells

During leaf season when blowing your leaves and debris.. if any goes down the the storm drain you can be fined as well.

@saber-jocky3436

5 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Our city has leaf pickup days. Everyone piles their leaves on the edge of the street, and the city comes along and sucks them up with a vac truck.

I did 5 years in the pen for power washing my driveway🤣

Another classic example of creating laws that don’t get enforced

@chris532008

5 жыл бұрын

In 20 years they will then say that u should have objected when made

In California the homeowner would also have to pay a fine and Also for the cost the state in incurred prosecuting them.

Pool videos would be great. We're building our first pool and would love to tap into your knowledge and expertise in that department too!

@supergoober1021

5 жыл бұрын

Cole Candler Pool water should be discharged to the sewer clean out you’ll likely find on the outside wall of your house behind your kitchen sink. The Water Pollution Control Plants don’t like a heavy chlorine residual, though, and may work with large pool owners to treat the discharge so it can be pumped to the gutters. My large pools were actually reservoirs of drinking water, so I got to know all my inspectors and spent years working and negotiating with them to keep everyone happy. Once I did that and paid everyone for their annual permits, it got easier. But I’m still very happy to have retired from all that crap.

Thanks a lot, Buzz Killington.

Thank you so much for information that I was really need. Will buy that item right away for car wash infront of my garage.

Thank you doctor this Info

I could careless about crazy law ,my land my rules

@yussefbechara714

5 жыл бұрын

Your land your rules. Just like how God says all the creation is his he made it even you are created by God so that's means that if you die in your sin you will end up in hellfire thats what God says he is going to do to sinners and God has all the rights to do that (he rules). he is not going to accept a sinner in heaven if the devil got kicked out of heaven for the sin he committed what make the sinners think that God is going to accept them in their sin? People are days and confused repent and go and sin no more because the unrighteous should not inherit the kingdom of God.

That's not a reclaim system thats a diversion and ur putting it right into the ground water. Congrats, truly brilliant.... 😑

So you would need to recharge the battery via a car or jump it off or did the battery need to be replaced

I'm going to go with no... Are you also saying that I cannot use my sprinklers if it causes runoff into the storm drain?