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
With respect to the States' databases, you may not locate... Read More
Recently in Professional Builder a cover article discussed how the... Read More
Everyone knows the United States Government often falls down in... Read More
Richard Nixon was by far a most fascinating and colorful... Read More
A War on Terrorism? Conventional war being brought on an... Read More
The Bill of Rights to our Constitution caused -- and... Read More
It is a law that we register deadly weapons with... Read More
Handing over power to Vladimir Putin in 1999, Boris Yeltsin... Read More
The Republican Party became popular due to its view on... Read More
Many of the problems that the members of the European... Read More
I like Bill O'Reilly. I do. I have read two... Read More
"The Jesuit priest John H. Surratt, proven to be the... Read More
Will a bus running across the borders bring cordial relations... Read More
The RSS is getting feedback from its 140 pracharaks or... Read More
Let's make one thing clear: This Dan Nelson Automotive fiasco... Read More
UK Water RatesYOU CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED FOR WATER RATES DEBTSWater... Read More
Many folks who are pro-NASA and Pro-Space Colonies say that... Read More
A SOLUTION FOR EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS TO AID IN THE FIGHT... Read More
We are slowing the transportation flows of our civilization by... Read More
Believe it or not, every theatre, church, or Britney Spears... Read More
In every national budget, there is a part called "Public... Read More
Sodomy is against the law, yet goes on every day... Read More
President Bush and Secretary Powell should hang their heads in... Read More
The problem of poverty in America comes as a surprise.... Read More
In years past California Mutual Assistance Program and emergency response... Read More
MUD ? Much Unnecessary DisclosureThe Federal Trade Commission recently asserted... Read More
Well the title is absolute Bull Crap, but this article... Read More
Rush is right! The government's stepped up bid to regulate... Read More
Here is an interesting thought; Corn to make Plastic An... Read More
Ohio's transportation sector seems to be strong, even with Ohio's... Read More
Federal Trade Commission Owes Industry and Entrepreneurs an Apology. The... Read More
Nothing could be more alarming for Americans than what I... Read More
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Men desire power. Give power to... Read More
The great leader and Senator from New York and wife... Read More
The other day I was sucker punched, hoodwinked, bamboozled, had... Read More
In an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the... Read More
Well, another election has come and gone in the US... Read More
Recently in Maine, I talked with a gentleman and we... Read More
What depth of blind insanity has inflicted itself upon Israel's... Read More
Many parents might think it a bit farfetched to compare... Read More
Thought of the day; Questions about the judicial system. If... Read More
Rush is right! The government's stepped up bid to regulate... Read More
In Police Magazine I read a great article about transient... Read More
A friend of mine, who lives in the thick of... Read More
Q. Should the Government be concerned if the CPI rises... Read More
In years past California Mutual Assistance Program and emergency response... Read More
In discussing the OODA Loop theory on Limited War by... Read More
In the future when we decide to help nations vote... Read More
China maybe stopping some of the SPAM coming into the... Read More
"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
Journalism, as it is often said, is the 'fourth branch... Read More
Perhaps a silent revolution is taking place, this time more... Read More
Most citizens agree that we need the Federal Trade Commission... Read More
Businesses advertising alcohol either in TV or non-broadcast format need... Read More
Legislation is getting legs to further curtail your use of... Read More
Many Americans have children, fathers, mothers, grandparents, other family members... Read More
Entrepreneurs can clean up the environment if we would let... Read More
You, the reader, should be aware of my affluence of... Read More
Let the reader be reminded, that this document we are... Read More
From the comfort of their plush offices and five to... Read More
In the previous article, we described the various methods developed... Read More
The United States is losing its industrial capacity quite rapidly.... Read More
From the National Association of Realtors' Virtual Office Website policy,... Read More
J. Edgar Hoover and LBJ used to enjoy watching Hoover's... Read More
The Bill of Rights to our Constitution caused -- and... Read More
Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross... Read More
Political |