While water covers 70 percent of the planet, less than 3 percent of it is fresh and only 1 percent of it is accessible. Because water is such a precious resource, pressure washing companies provide water reclamation services to keep local watersheds clean, reduce the impact on the local water supply and meet environmental standards.
What is Water Reclamation?
Credit: Dutch Touch Shop
If you have a rain barrel at home to catch water that runs off your roof, you reclaim the water and put it to good use. Similarly, pressure-washing companies capture the wastewater that they produce using recovery and filtration units that vacuum wastewater using a berm, vacuuming surface-cleaner equipment or hand-held vacuum hoses. The water passes through a series of filters and into a holding tank for reuse or disposal. While this water isn’t drinkable, it is safe to use for landscaping irrigation, toilets, creating artificial bodies of water, mixing concrete, cleaning equipment and more. With a properly designed water reclamation system, the treated wastewater is of high enough quality to be safe for human exposure. When the technician cannot dispose of the wastewater properly or does not have a filtering system, he’ll take it to a disposal facility.
Why Professionals Use Water Reclamation Services
- Reduce pollution: Wastewater produced by pressure washing equipment often has biological and chemical pollutants that may pose a danger to groundwater and local watersheds. Capturing the water helps ensure that only storm water goes into a municipal drain system.
- It’s the law: In the US and Canada, there are state, federal and province-specific laws regarding what can go into sewers and storm drains. Pressure washing companies reclaim wastewater to protect the environment and maintain compliance with environmental laws.
- Reduce the demand on local water supplies: As the demand for fresh water increases, so do water shortages. Using reclaimed water helps increase the amount of water available to homes and natural habitats.
- Reduced operating costs: In Canada and the US, some customers are charged for the amount of water used and sent down the drain. Water reclamation services help lower these costs, enabling pressure-washing companies to pass the saving onto customers.
PWNA Safety Procedures
The Power Washers of North America, a group that informs members on best practices for safety in pressure washing. Make sure your technicians are ready for work, wearing appropriate clothing and operating power washers in a safe manner. Take time before each project to train our pressure washing crews on safety issues.