15951, Ok, I can see you are informed on the topic. Can�€™t see from your profile where you are from, but I double dare you to come here to So California and go tell the surfers you think that discharging the waste from the washing machine is the same as discharging into the Storm Drain (and to the Ocean, and drives the surfers nuts because they can�€™t surf at the best times, around storms, because of Storm Water Run Off).
Just so I understand you, you are saying that discharge from a car wash into the Storm Drain is the same as taking my towels, where all the waste is captured, and washing them as a professional in a commercial facility prepared to handle the waste, or even as a DIY that uses the home washing machine without getting caught by the wife �€ where it is discharged into the sanitary sewer, and off to a treatment plant?
I have 2 sets of neighbors, the old timers that do pull the car onto the front yard and wash away, swear, drives me nuts as I am fortunate to live in a nice neighborhood, but not as much as my knuckleheaded neighbors who hire the illegal immigrant to come in my alley and wash without a capture mat! Swear, a couple of each every week.
I think you are inappropriately defining non point source, as I understand it �€ the laundry is not non point source pollution, as it goes into the controlled environment. Definition from the EPA site
Q: What is nonpoint source pollution?
A: Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:
�€ Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
�€ Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;
�€ Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
�€ Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines;
�€ Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septicsystems;
Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution.
Now, you want to get technical? The City of Calabasas, CA, on the commercial mobile detailers is requiring Permits to operate and have standards that require the operator to utilize a waterless product or wash mat to capture and properly dispose of the waste water (I think it is considered hazardous waste, btu that is a whole other can of really bad worms). The reason they did this is they feared the new NPDES permit would allow the State Water Control board to fine them. The City Attorney�€™s reasoning is that when the SWCB takes TMDL (Total Daily Maximum Load) readings the Non Source Pollutants would cause above limit findings �€ and fine the City $10,000 per day. True story.
Lastly, the State of Washington requires you to move the car to the front lawn, except if you use a waterless product �€ again, true story, as they believe it kills Salmon. Did you ever look for the Pudget Sound Study funded by Brown Bear Car Wash?
-jim
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