Wash Water Recycling Systems

You are in violation of EPA regulations if you do not have a discharge permit and are discharging vehicle wash water to the ground, septic tank or storm sewer. Eventually the EPA will notice you, or someone will report you to them in order to collect the reward money that they offer in their “Whistle Blower” program, and then you will have ten problems.

1. You must stop cleaning your equipment.
2. You may have to pay a fine up to $25,000 per day for minor violations.
3. You are listed as a violator on the EPA computer, which is monitored by Environmental Activist Groups.
4. Your company looks bad in the eyes of the employees and the community.
5. From then on, your company will be closely inspected by the EPA, which could result in an expensive mandatory clean-up.
6. Your company could be the subject of adverse media attention.
7. You could be contaminating your property, which could negatively affect value or future sale.
8. Your company could face a civil suit filed by the citizens or activists.
9. 1990 legislation has changed criminal violations from misdemeanors to felonies.
10. Like the saying goes, “pay me now or pay me later.”

There are many reasons, such as:

1. Recycling conserves fresh water, a precious resource of our planet that is being rapidly deleted.
2. You will be helping to maintain a safe and clean environment.
3. Your company will be recognized for its efforts to protect the environment. Many of RGF’s customers have also received recognition in newspaper articles commending them for their environmental concerns.
4. Even if you pollute your land without the EPA noticing, you still have a major problem. You may not be able to sell it. This is because before any commercial property is sold, an environmental audit and testing is performed. If your land is found to be contaminated, the EPA will force you to perform a full clean-up, which in most cases will exceed the value of the land.

Oil, grease and fuels contain hazardous materials such as benzene, lead, chromium, arsenic, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, etc. Over months of cleaning, these hazardous materials build up to a dangerous and illegal volume. In addition, it is illegal to discharge oils, detergents, degreasers, pesticides, etc. to the ground. Eventually these contaminants permeate through the soil and pollute our ground and drinking waters.

The RGF Universal Advanced Bioreactors (UAB) are designed for agricultural or golf course cleaning operations. HIP’s are a major concern. An EPA study found 16 HIP’s in 23 states appearing in well water, not a pleasant thought.

No, RGF has designed a method of performing both tasks on one wash pad. Our de-mucking pump systems can provide water for heavy solids removal, and one of our standard recycling units can provide recycled water to your pressure cleaner on the same wash pad.

The WashMaster is a closed-loop recycling system and does not discharge except under accidental conditions only, i.e., because of heavy rain, or because the tap water was left running, etc. However, before you purchase a RGF WashMaster, check with your local authorities. We did in Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Washington, where the EPA is extremely strict. They stated in writing that they encourage the use of the RGF WashMaster.

Since RGF specializes in wastewater management, we are experienced in making the process fast and simple for the customer. Once we gather the details of an application RGF can help the customer choose the proper WashMaster model for his needs. RGF will also work with the customer after the unit has been installed in order to handle any changes in his waste treatment needs. We pride ourselves in gaining and maintaining the satisfaction and respect for our customers. RGF has been awarded the INC. Magazine Customer Service Award.

Depending on your needs, we can provide quality recycled wash water or water suitable for sewer discharge. We take pride in being a total service company and have the resources to provide the level of treatment that you need today and in the future.

We utilize only technologies rated by the EPA as Best Available Technology or BAT. Then we borrowed a philosophy from the Aerospace and Nuclear Industries – redundant systems, meaning each system has a backup. Then we did them one better. We have a minimum of triple redundancy. For each containment, we use at least three BAT’s to remove it! For example: if the waste stream contains benzene, we would use aeration, hydrocarbon absorption, catalytic oxidation, carbon and activated carbon, as many as five redundant technologies.

RGF has sold over 12,000 systems all over the world. Our clients include numerous fortune 500 companies, major trucking firms, national waste haulers, heavy equipment companies, oil companies, state and local government utilities, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, nuclear plants, and NASA to mention only a few. Many of these companies have conducted lab and field tests, in some cases using an independent agency to evaluate the system. We are proud to say we have never failed an evaluation.

You lose approximately 10% to 20% of your water through evaporation when you pressure clean, and more when you steam clean. When the storage tank water level falls below 1/3 full, fresh make-up water is automatically added. Secondly, we set the operating level at 40% full to allow our users to use city water as a final rinse water to give our clients built in “wash water management”.

For recycling system, none should be necessary other than the standard construction permits. However, this should be confirmed with local authorities.

The WashMaster Systems are designed for simple installation and use. The system does not require any special construction other than a wash pad and a level space to install the unit. If there is not already a wash pad in place, RGF can provide typical complete engineered design drawings at no charge. The electrical, water, and air needs of the unit can almost always be met by the pre-existing utilities of the customer.

There are five reasons why this is a poor choice

1. Construction of a tank large enough to contain your run-off and the required secondary containment is expensive, A 10,000 gallon tank will cost approximately $10,000.
2. Such a system would probably require you to obtain permits, which can be a difficult process.
3. Regular inspection of the tank and monitoring wells will be necessary. In addition, the tank will have to be a double containment vessel.
4. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find waste treatment plants that will accept water contaminated with oil and grease.
5. There will be a continual shipping expense of as much as $2 per gallon and rapidly rising.

The WashMaster system is very versatile and, with only minor modification, will allow direct discharge. RGF also makes systems specifically for sewer discharge. However, a permit would be required for direct discharge.

RGF does manufacture oil water separators, and they do separate oils from water. They do not work on soluble petroleum, hydrocarbons, emulsified oils, heavy metals, or most other hazardous materials. Therefore, discharge of soapy wash water through an oil water separator may not be enough to meet discharge limits. We have developed our SD (sewer discharge) units to help with this problem. It has the ability to filter solids, remove trace heavy metal, and any other hazardous materials. The RGF OWS and SD systems offer molded color impregnated UV protected polyethylene tanks, and are installed above ground.

Yes, RGF’s staff of environmental experts are available to assist you in solving your wastewater problems. Our experts are active in many professional societies. We have been published in many technical journals and environmental engineering textbooks. You could say we wrote the book! Since 1985, RGF has been the recognized leader in wash water recycling.

RGF key employees average 21 years of experience each, and cover the following areas:

1. Water treatment plants, industrial as well as municipal reverse osmosis plants.
2. Wastewater treatment plants, major industrial as well as municipal and large, state-of-the-art municipal recycling treatment plants.
3. Environmental engineering – field, lab analysis and system development.
4. Nuclear rad-waste treatment facilities
5. Chemical development of detergents, germicides, algaecides, flocking agents and disinfectants
6. Development of reverse osmosis and ozone systems for government and industry
7. Nuclear fabrication and quality control
8. Mechanical, civil, manufacturing and construction engineering
9. International water treatment and environmental training
10. Oil field, marine, petrochemical, steel, mining and utilities field experience

Yes. Typical test data on our middle-line system has incoming water at 10,970 ppm, FOG (fats, oils & grease) and filtered water at 1ppm FOG. Data on our SD unit has incoming lead at 9 ppm and filtered at less than 0.7 ppm. BOD reduced by 82%. These are outstanding results. However, we caution in using test typical or data by others as each waste stream is unique and must be tested on an individual basis.

RGF was incorporated in July 1985 for the purpose of designing, developing and manufacturing water recycling systems. Its principles have been in the wastewater, environment, chemical, engineering, and fabrication business an average of 21 years.

There are a number of competitors, and we like to stress the following:

1. RGF was the originator of closed-loop, skid-mounted recycling systems
2. Water recycling is our business, not a sideline.
3. We have numerous models and technologies to choose from, not just one system that supposedly does it all.
4. We are a total service business. We work with you from the waste stream, water analysis, proper system selection, permitting, proper cleaning agents, start-up, maintenance programs, new technologies, upgraded and system monitoring.
5. We have a “800” number and a staff of professionals to answer all your environmental questions.
6. We have a proven track record with references to back it up.

Smelly water is caused by algae and bacteria and can be controlled with the use of chlorine (as you would your swimming pool) and hydrogen peroxide, or with ozone. The trouble with the ozone is it has no residual killing power. In other words, it only works when it is on the water, and on the water it contacts. This is why ozone alone is not sufficient. Ozone can be used to cut down your use of a residual disinfectant. Ozone used with an oxidizer that has residual killing power works the best. That is why RGF uses ozone, UV light and our Oxy Puck residual disinfectant. This is referred to as Advanced Oxidation Process.

Indefinitely. Basically, the pumps and some electrical/mechanical components will wear out in time. They can be easily replaced. The rest of the system, is polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, with epoxy coated stainless steel or aluminum supports and frames. The WashMaster is built to last.

Chlorine is a very effective disinfectant, which is used in swimming pools and municipal water treatment plants. There is some recent concern about chloramines developing from the use of chlorine. Therefore, RGF R&D has developed a water additive (Oxy Pucks) that acts as the following:

1. A bactericide
2. An algaecide
3. Non-corrosive
4. Non-toxic
5. Biodegradable
6. A de-emulsifier

• If you are pressure cleaning and discharging to ground, you will have to buy an environmental system.
• RGF is the leader of the industry with numerous patents and continuous research and development. You will own the best.
• We have a proven track record with over 12,000 systems installed.
• We have been approved and endorsed by Federal and State agencies, international companies and many fortune 500 companies.
• We are a group of professionals with common sense solutions to environmental problems.
• We don’t just sell a product, we provide you with the total time proven program.
• We are a total service company from planning to operation. We stand behind our product, in many cases beyond warranty. This is just not a promise, we have a history of service and references to back it up.