cosmetic or sanitary

[desi]

Do most municipalities consider pressure washing cosmetic or sanitary cleaning? I am wondering because water restrictions in my area apply to cosmetic only.

thanks

[John Doherty]

I would contact each water board for clarification. We just got out of most of this in Colorado. They termed it health and safety, not sanitary.

Some rules of thumb, they generaly viewed ALL residential as cosmetic, you could try to argue the mold end but I don't think you'll have much luck.

Vehicle washing was out with 2 exceptions, car lots and agricultural stock hauling. Food service and supermarkets, dumpster pad and loading dock was OK, but not store front.

Their view was if people could get sick or hurt it was OK to clean. The additional problem is if they think they are doing the right thing when they allow it again. In Denver and Aurora they now allow PW, but restrict your equipment to 3GPM, they don't realize the loss of efficiency equation, loss of GPM = addition of minutes, which = more water use.

Each water board had different rules, at one point Aurora Water had no PW allowed but in one area there was a different water board (ECCVW) with no restrictions. You need to call each one find out their rules and geographical boundries.

I wish you the best of luck, and be careful, fines can get steep and be aware they will fine you and your customer.

One last note, none of the municipalities here cared if you brought your own water from outside their jurisdiction, so that is not a viable option.

Good luck,

JD

[CarolinaProWash]

Originally Posted by NEWHEIGHTS

I would contact each water board for clarification. We just got out of most of this in Colorado. They termed it health and safety, not sanitary.

Some rules of thumb, they generaly viewed ALL residential as cosmetic, you could try to argue the mold end but I don't think you'll have much luck. They're nuts (I'm so sorry for you!) Don't you get nasty roofs there? It is not healthy! Mildew on homes is not healthy!

Vehicle washing was out with 2 exceptions, car lots and agricultural stock hauling. Food service and supermarkets, dumpster pad and loading dock was OK, but not store front.

How are car lots not cosmetic - how hypocritical! And I guess that folks risking slipping on greasy store front sidewalks (I mention greasy because we do a restaurant sidewalk monthly and it is GREASY out the front door)

Their view was if people could get sick or hurt it was OK to clean. The additional problem is if they think they are doing the right thing when they allow it again. In Denver and Aurora they now allow PW, but restrict your equipment to 3GPM, they don't realize the loss of efficiency equation, loss of GPM = addition of minutes, which = more water use.

Can you actually make a living there with those restrictions? What if you have a wood house that needs cleaning to be restained, or your deck?????



Good luck,

JD

I truly don't understand where some people think that they have a right to dictate to folks what they can and can't do with their own property. Or, did I miss something and you're only talking commercial stuff ?

Celeste

[PressurePros]

Celeste, I think its just when you are in drought conditions. At least that was what happened to me a couple of years ago. I was sanctioned to only do jobs that were neccessary for sanitation. Its a fine line and there are plenty of loopholes. My AHJ gave me alot of leeway.

[CarolinaProWash]

Well that helps a bit.....nothing like feeling like a doodoo in a swimming pool when you just want to do your job

[John Doherty]

No, you didn't miss a thing, some people went for over a year without a lawn, no landscaping or sod was allowed to be installed and they couldn't water even if they had one already. The climate here is very arid so there is no house washing done, as there is no mold/mildew growth. But imagine a subdivision of $500,000 homes surrounded by only dirt!

Call me cynical on the car lots, but we really have only one celebrity in this state and his main business is cars (Elway), he has more of them than anyone else in the state, I can't help but think that had something to do with it.

In 2003 they put over 10,000 green workers (landscape / nursery, etc) out of jobs.

Although I live in Denver, I do no work here, the little I do in Aurora, I do on the weekend if possible. I don't know how others manage.

In Aurora they had a staff of 8 just for water enforcement, busting people for using sprinklers and stuff, and of course they now have a budget crisis so they are furloughing some cops and firefighters through February.

There is NO WAY to fight these people. I do take the drought seriously, but they aren't always very smart about these things. Right now we are at 72% capacity in our reseviors and the snow pack is at 106% for this time of year, so we finally have some relief, I don't think they will ever remove the 3 GPM restriction, to them it's a no brainer.

The crazy thing was no bringing your own water, they claimed there was no way for them to know where it came from so they had to assume it was theirs.