Pressure washing inside Houston city limits
Water Reclamation for Pressure Washing in Houston, TX
Wash water full of oil, grease and grime isn't allowed to run down the storm drain in the City of Houston. On jobs that call for it, we collect the water as we clean, so your property gets washed and the dirty water stays out of the storm drains.
Why it matters
Houston's Storm Drains Only Take Rain
The storm drains in a Houston parking lot or garage aren't connected to a treatment plant. They carry rainwater out to the city's bayous, and from there it all heads toward Galveston Bay. Anything that goes down the drain with that water goes along for the ride.
Pressure washing a commercial property produces a lot of dirty water. It picks up motor oil, grease from food service areas, cleaning solution, tire dust and everything else that's been sitting on the concrete. Letting it run into the storm drain is exactly what the city's rules are written to stop.
The short version of the rule: the City of Houston's code makes it an offense to put anything into the storm sewer system that isn't entirely storm water. Wash water from cleaning a property doesn't qualify.
Your parking lot
Oil, grease and cleaner get washed off the concrete.
The storm drain
Drains carry water away with no treatment at all.
The bayous
Storm sewers empty into Houston's bayous and creeks.
Galveston Bay
Where the bayous eventually lead.
What it involves
Clean the Property, Keep the Water
Water reclamation means catching the wash water before it reaches a storm drain, so it goes somewhere it's allowed to go. These are the pieces of it. How we set them up depends on the property, where the drains are and what's being washed off, and we'll go over it with you when we quote the job.
- 1
Protect the Drains
The storm drain inlets in the work area are covered so wash water can't get in.
- 2
Contain the Runoff
The water from the section being washed is kept where it can be collected.
- 3
Recover the Water
The dirty water is picked up instead of flowing off the property.
- 4
Dispose of It Properly
What's collected goes where it's allowed to go, not into the storm sewer.
Where it matters
Properties Where Wash Water Capture Matters
Parking Garages
Garage decks collect years of oil drips and tire grime, and all of it has to go somewhere when the deck's washed.
Shopping Centers
Big lots, sidewalks and drive lanes with storm inlets everywhere.
Restaurant Lots
Grease tracked out of the kitchen is exactly what shouldn't reach a drain.
Apartment Communities
Large paved areas and breezeways inside the city limits.
Managed Properties
Owners and managers whose own policies call for wash water capture.
Anywhere in the City
If the property is in the City of Houston, it's worth asking about.
Common questions
Water Reclamation Questions
Does every job in Houston need reclamation?
It comes down to where the water would end up. If wash water from your property could reach a storm drain, it has to be caught, and we'll plan the job around that. We'll look at it with you before we quote.
Does reclamation cost more?
It usually adds some time and equipment to the job, so it's reflected in the quote. You'll see it spelled out before you agree to anything.
What about properties outside the city?
Harris County, Montgomery County and the cities around Houston have their own stormwater rules. If you're not sure what applies to your property, ask us when you request a quote.
Can you work after we close?
Tell us when the property's quietest when you ask for a quote, and we'll let you know what we can do.
What services can include reclamation?
It fits with our parking lot cleaning, sidewalk cleaning and building washing on properties that need it.
Can you tell me exactly what my permit requires?
We're not lawyers or regulators, so for the specifics of a permit, check with the city or your property's environmental contact. What we can do is run the cleaning in a way that keeps wash water out of the storm drains.
Clean Your Property the Right Way
Tell us where the property is, what needs washing and whether wash water has to be collected. We'll put together a free quote that covers it.
(281) 730-7051
