Many non-profit groups are feeling upset that they are allowed to do car wash fundraisers in some California Cities. It is not that the government officials are against your groups raising money, it is that they worry where are the soapy dirty water is going. It is a problem and it might be good for you to understand some of the history behind the rules rather than get upset over it.
HISTORY
Well it all started many years ago when Congress passed the Federal Clean Water Act in 1972 during the Nixon Administration. This was in response to major pollution issues involving polluting the nation's waterways from factories, strip mining and sewage treatment plants or lack thereof. It was actually quite a problem. It was an ecosystem disaster causing disease and death to wildlife and some people. When it was discovered just how bad the problem really was, the federal government empowered the states to take care of the issues within their state. The states enacted state laws to help fix the problem. Meanwhile, the federal government tightened standards forcing states to tighten their standards or be in violation. With the threat of withholding federal monies to the states, the states continued to make more and more laws. Industry obviously wasn't happy and even government agencies were unable to comply with the laws they made. So, target dates were enacted to give time for everyone to comply. Overnight environmental consulting firms sprung up along with a whole new industry of environmental equipment and product manufactures, many of whom weren't even in compliance themselves. Of course, all good things take time and cleaning up our water is obviously a good thing.
The State of California divided the state into nine different regions realizing that each region had different pollution problems based on industry types, demography and population in the areas. These regions were called 'Regional Water Quality Control Districts' (RWQCD). These were all controlled by the State Board that was defined by the Federal Clean Water Act as the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Once the problem was broken down into smaller pieces things started to change for the better.
The SWRCB was formed in California and is commonly called 'The State Board'. The State Board regulates Water Quality Control, which is any activity or factor that might affect the quality of waters of the state and includes the prevention and correction of water pollution and nuisance. This sounds very encompassing and the State Board has a lot of power. Luckily, with the combined efforts of industry, government and the people, they now understand the issues enough to make intelligent decisions and they fully understand that your organization needs to earn money. Thus, rather than prevent and outlaw activities, everyone is working on solutions and procedures to allow responsible discharges creating a win-win situation for everyone.
Recently, the State Water Quality Control Boards asked the counties to submit for approval and receive permits to discharge the same waters they've been discharging for years. These permits were called NPDES permits. This stands for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. Most counties assigned an existing department to work on this permit. More likely than not, it is the county's Flood Control Department. Unfortunately, this part of the county deals with permits for land development, bridges, infrastructures, etc. Until now, they knew very little about pollution. Some counties turned this responsibility over to the Environmental Health Services Department who in turn worked with the Flood Control Department which controls storm drains. The NPDES permits are approved by the state for local county urban runoff discharges. Each city in each county through municipal codes is supposed to pass ordinances and come up with a plan for controlling their local runoff/pollution. The county remains responsible to the state and the states to the Federal Government. The NPDES requirements are an offspring of the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency even though they are enforced, permitted and regulated locally by cities, counties and states.
The actual law that is used to enforce these statutes can be found in 13.260 ? 13.265 of the California Water Code. At one point it actually reads:
"No person, or persons may discharge water to any waterways without permission or a permit from a state regional water quality control board."
This sounds pretty absolute doesn't it. It is against the law for you to take a glass of water from your sink, walk over to a storm drain and pour the water in the drain. This in itself would obviously not hurt the environment, but by granting absolute power the Regional Water Quality Control Boards can look at everything on a case-by-case basis. So do be serious about your water after you wash those cars.
STORM WATER DISCHARGE
City, county and state governments know that car washing has always been a favorite fundraiser for sports teams, scout troops, schools and other non-profit groups. Due to the low capital investment costs, car wash fundraisers can generate significant amounts of profit. For the last ten years government agencies especially in California have been working with industry to come up with solutions to clean up our water. Today the waterways of America are significantly cleaner than they were in the past even though many regions are more heavily populated. It's been working great. Now we are going one step further. No pollution from any source, even mobile dog groomers. Only in the last few years have government agencies decided that the adverse environmental impact is too great to allow car wash fundraisers. Along with strong lobbying from fixed site car wash owners, some cities and counties have actually outlawed these fundraisers unless certain procedures are followed to insure that no waste wash water enters storm drains, ditches or waterways.
Their reasoning is this: Dirty water containing soaps and detergents, residues from exhaust fumes, gasoline and motor oils is washed off of the cars and flows into nearby storm drains. Unlike the water we use in our homes and businesses that goes down the drain and is treated at sewer treatment plants, water that goes into storm drains flows directly into rivers, bays, oceans and lakes without any kind of treatment. Obviously one car wash fundraiser by itself will create little if any adverse environmental impact. But government agencies know that collectively car wash fundraisers contribute significant pollution.
They also realize that biodegradable soaps do not lessen the impact. This is because biodegradable only means that the soap will degrade over time. So does plutonium, it just takes longer. Soaps and car wash products are still toxic to aquatic life even if they are biodegradable. Think on this a bit. If you really want to have the city allow you to do a car wash fundraiser you are going to have to figure out how to keep the dirty soapy water out of the storm drain.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..Will a bus running across the borders bring cordial relations... Read More
As of late steroid use in sports has been the... Read More
Every conflict has its economic moments and dimensions. The current... Read More
The Carl Rove issue is definitely interesting and distracting. The... Read More
Even the most devout proponents of free marketry and hidden... Read More
The newest pebble reactors are easy to build and manage... Read More
Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross... Read More
Well here is a great new product, we first saw... Read More
Is Ohio Manufacturing Sector really unable to compete in the... Read More
I applaud Monsanto for their R and D. I would... Read More
The North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented on January... Read More
It can be dangerous to engage in free speech. This... Read More
The Randolphs:Peyton Randolph was the first President of the United... Read More
Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More
It appears we are having a terrible situation with the... Read More
The use of religion is well-documented as a social engineering... Read More
When I was growing up, I actually considered a career... Read More
The paper industry in the US is hurting. Due to... Read More
We are having a problem in America with Public Notaries,... Read More
America is filled with standouts and perserverance; our nation has... Read More
(Note: This article was written slightly before the 2004 election;... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission has very important Anti-trust Laws. They... Read More
OH MAN!Here we go again. I guess now the "proof... Read More
The expertise and advancement of the evolution of man and... Read More
Many times our government regulatory over embellish problems in the... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Mexico the country of Salsa, Tortillas and Corruption; I first... Read More
Do you really want to get ahead in your life?... Read More
For anyone who wishes to become an armchair General in... Read More
A coffee shop conversation about a Great Country in Historic... Read More
Many people who are expert in the issue of the... Read More
"The Jesuit priest John H. Surratt, proven to be the... Read More
The evacuation of Gaza is now completed, and the world... Read More
Well the title is absolute Bull Crap, but this article... Read More
Where are all the high-speed trains we were promised? Where... Read More
"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
If slavery has not worked well, then cloning if it... Read More
This is the third in a short series of four... Read More
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people. Ask an... Read More
It cities across America water is an issue, the flow... Read More
UK Water RatesYOU CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED FOR WATER RATES DEBTSWater... Read More
Introduction:Although politicians and so-called "Intelligence Experts" are the ones appearing... Read More
I believe it would be good for the economy for... Read More
I like Bill O'Reilly. I do. I have read two... Read More
Why are we over regulating the franchising industry? What are... Read More
The use of religion is well-documented as a social engineering... Read More
Since the court case was over turned against Arthur Anderson... Read More
Many had made mention of the problems of business opportunities... Read More
As pictures and videos surface showing young American soldiers humiliating... Read More
In many reports we see that the Federal Trade Commission... Read More
Let's put the religious part of the debate for a... Read More
Political |