Vehicle and Equipment Washing

Wash water for industrial equipment and vehicles in most cases is not allowed in storm drains. To clean dirty, greasy field equipment, trucks, or airplanes, operators must install equipment to capture, pre-treat, and discharge the wash water to the sanitary sewer as industrial process waste. Depending on site specific need and condition, it might be more cost effect to contract with a commercial car washing services off site that have all the appropriate equipment and municipal permits.

If washing vehicles or equipment on site is the only choice, it only can be done in a designated wash area with a covered and properly graded pad that drains to the sanitary sewer or to a sump or tank that is serviced by a licensed waste hauler. Proper grading and covering the pad with a roof will help prevent stormwater from running in and creating additional costs. Operators need to contact local wastewater treatment agent for information regarding discharging to the sanitary sewer.

Source: Image of Caltrans Storm Water Quality Handbooks

All the washing requirements above are applied to onsite pressure washing as well. Pressure wash cleaning water may not be discharged into the storm drains. During onsite pressure washing of vehicles and equipments, storm drains that could receive process wastewater will be blocked or equipped with filters or sediment traps to prevent visible solids from entering the storm drains. Any collected solids will be disposed of as directed by environmental agencies.

Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)