I want to recover !!

[Pams Pressure & Clean]

AND I NEED GOOD INFO...

Recovery and reclamation is a topic that is largely ignored in our area.
There are few if any (myself included) that actually know any, all, or even a little bit about the rules, regs, and procedures as they apply here.
The reality is that enforcement WILL be here eventually and I can either be with 'em or against 'em..We all know who is gonna win the battle between Good ole' Cujo and The Man...
Not to mention that is the law, it really is the right thing to do and it's a good marketing tool.
I have done some research on some of what's available such as the Water Boy recycle system and the Steel Eagle recovery/recycle unit, but the reality is that I could spend some hard core cash and still not have the system I -- want/need/is right -- for my application.
I think it is reasonable to assume that a system I would need would be fairly small scale, compared to say someone who does nothing but parking lots or restaraunts all day every day. We do a fair amount of commercial work and residential along with it, but it is also reasonable to say that in reality, most residential waste water stays in the flowerbeds until you get to the driveway. so the actual amount of water to be cleaned/claimed is relatively small.....I think....

Now that I have admitted to not even really knowing what I don't know... What say the Experts on a start-up system??

For baselines:

• figure that the budget is insanely small,
• volume produced is under 5gpm,
• most common cleaning application would be post construction clean of mud/clay/dirt from curb, gutter, sidewalks & small driveways
• residential cleaning of driveways and sidewalks.
• small volume of oil/grease
• no current usage for restaraunt applications
• no current usage for interior applications where sanitary sewer floor drains do not already exist.

I am thinking currently that a small sump type system with feedback to something like a Water Boy may be the best answer... But... the reclaim/recycle/vac unit from Steel Eagle looks pretty damn nifty too..
I just have a hard time believing that it's as simple as the pictures and the websites (of each company) make it look...

Please,
I am looking for good info from everyone including prices, problems, atta-boys, maintenance costs, brand names, and the whole shooting match.
I'm also guessing that there are others out there who want the same info, but won't ask becasue they don't want anyone to know they aren't reclaiming/recycling.... Help us help ourselves....

Cujo

[One Tough Pressure]

Do you want to just pick up the water and discharge to the sanitary, or do you actually want to reuse the water that you pick up?

Reuse will require 2 tanks, so that you always have a fresh rinse.

The waterboy and the other like units are just basic filtration and do not get out chemicals. Based on your type of work described above, I would say it is a waste of money for now.

I have never heard of a recover and recycle unit made by Steel Eagle. If you refer to the Fury, it is a recovery system not a recycling one.

I use a Kohler engine with a sutorbilt blower for a very strong vacuum. The waste tank is a 30 gallon drum with an internal sump pump. If the job is small, I just pump water to my tank for later discharge. If the job is large I discharge to the sanitary onsite if available. I have the Water Treatment Tech unit that is similar to the WaterBoy and only use if needed.
Water is picked up with the vacuboom or the Steel Eagle vacuum surface cleaner. I pick up water on most of my jobs. Every once in a while I get lucky and the water will not go anywhere so I take advantage of that.
My recovery system cost more than most peoples whole rig with accessories and fuel costs are about $20.00 an hour with the vacuum, generator and full heat going. Maintenance takes a bit more time, smells real bad and can be a pain in the rear if put off.

[Pams Pressure & Clean]

Alan,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Yes, the Fury system is what I was referring to from S.E. ..Specifically the 2400XL. Seems like a really cool system.
If we go by the price of roughly $7000 for that unit alone, then how much do we add for a vacuum surfacer, a couple hundred feet of suction hose, a suction hose reel, and all the other extras I have forgotten?
To answer another question, I would like to, in theory anyway, re-use some of the reclaimed water. It does not make a lot of sense to me to load up and haul off a bunch of dirty water, especailly if the job is reasonably large and exceeds my holding capacity in which case I'd have to shut down, haul off, come back, roll out again and go back to work.. Too, I like the idea of not having to lay down a bunch of berms, remote pumps, etc...
That said, I don't know how much a system like that would run, nor if it is especially detrimental to the pump/heater/etc. to run grey water through it.

Thanks again to what you added and I look forward to much more.

[One Tough Pressure]

The fury system is available is Beth's store in a variety of models. She sells the vacuum units and the surfacer cleaners at a real competitive price. Although not in the store, I am sure she can get the reels and the hose as well.

If you have a large job then it makes sense to reuse the water if you can't discharge to the sanitary. My only problem with using recycled water has been a rash of K-7 Unloaders going bad on me, as they are not as forgiving as the pressure type. My pump is just fine as of my last pump head pressure check.

If you plan to resuse the water in conjunction with the vacuum surfacer, then you will need more than the Water Boy or Water Treatment Tech units as they are just basic and still require a fresh water rinse of the surface which you will not want to do with the surface cleaner, as it will take to long.

I am working on a better filtration unit to use for myself, but am limited in space as to what I can add. Aside from the Water Treatment Tech, I want to add a sand filter, a cartridge filter, and a chlorinator, along with a continuous pump that cycles the water through all that.

If you want to go with the Fury system, expect to spend around $15,000 for the main items and accessories. Also consider the extra space for the unit that is the size of a very large skid washer and weighs around 600 lbs as well. The primary seperation drum is a 55 gallon drum so consider that space as well. The reel is available from carpet cleaning companies in a variety of sizes to meet your needs. You can fill a whole trailer with just recovery items.