Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: david68 on August 14, 2015, 11:20:22 pm
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Today I was speaking to a window cleaner and driveway cleaner,
He told me he had to stop pressure washing drives, He as been photographed going about is job, Then was sent a letter about what he was doing was criminal.
If he was to window clean using water fed system or washing drives, he would have to collect the water used from property and not let it run down the drains,
This is all true and they are building a case on him. For now he as given everything up and today started signing on, He was paying his taxes ect.
They told him that these business are going to have a shock.
He sent me this link of the regulations that they are in forcing.
So far this is all I know
Link below
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290144/pmho0307bmdx-e-e.pdf
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Says nothing about water fed pole systems or window cleaning , it's mainly about washing cars :-/
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From what ive read so long as it goes into the foul drain then no problem
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::)roll
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Its to do with car washing, there have been a lot of new car washing businesses set up in this last few years (guys using power washers ) and the majority haven't arranged for the waste water to be collected.
There has been talk of a clamp down on this for a lot of years now and so far nothing seems to have happened, maybe the recession had something to do with them turning a blind eye and now that the economy is on the up and unemployment is down they will be more proactive at shutting these guys down.
Plus the garages that have invested a fortune in the proper equipment are giving off.
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lol
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I'm sure shutting every one down will help the national debt no end :D
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I wouldn't be surprised if some little know it all Hitler has pulled this guy and instead of telling him to get lost he's listened
to him.
A few years back I was cleaning windows next to a building site when some official started giving off that I should be wearing a
high visibility jacket.
He wasn't a bit pleased when after a bit of an argument I told him to get lost in words that wouldn't be allowed on here, still
waiting on my fine. ::)roll
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Surely you bumped into the the local nutter who just blurts out random jibberish to anyone . Otherwise the council would be out fining joe public left right and centre .
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I had an 'elf and safety 'official' tell me I couldn't use a WFP on the high street. In demonstrating to me how it may be dangerous to a blind person he actually put his hand on my face to cover my eyes! The following conversation ended with him beating a hasty retreat, with me telling him to "go away".
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Surely you bumped into the the local nutter who just blurts out random jibberish to anyone . Otherwise the council would be out fining joe public left right and centre .
No he was the real deal, he didn't have any control over how I done my days work and wasn't too pleased that I knew that.
I would say he's been giving it large to the guys on the building site and thought he would have a go at me also
they get a bit of power and it goes to their heads.
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Today I was speaking to a window cleaner and driveway cleaner,
He told me he had to stop pressure washing drives, He as been photographed going about is job, Then was sent a letter about what he was doing was criminal.
If he was to window clean using water fed system or washing drives, he would have to collect the water used from property and not let it run down the drains,
This is all true and they are building a case on him. For now he as given everything up and today started signing on, He was paying his taxes ect.
They told him that these business are going to have a shock.
He sent me this link of the regulations that they are in forcing.
So far this is all I know
Link below
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290144/pmho0307bmdx-e-e.pdf
mmmm...................so thats it then! ::)roll
why on earth would you jack in a cleaning business you ve worked hard to build up over a number of years to sign on the dole?
id rather do anything else than go on benefits
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Would be interested to see the case they are so say building against him.
I would say a mobile cleaner using a wfp has no environmental impact whatsoever for a start regarding run-offs.
Likewise pressure washing also has no environmental impact either just using tap water that most mobile cleaners use.
Regarding the control of waste as a mobile cleaner unless you use loads of chems and/or allow slurry etc to enter the drainage systems still they would have to prove you where in breach of the rules.
I'm no expert but if they wanted to enforce the law that would mean no one including joe public would be able to wash anything and allow it to go down the drain... including me stinky pants ;D
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Erm that document is dated 8 years ago, also it's about pollution. Unless you are adding something to your water, it's just that - water.
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There seems to be certain services that are stringently controlled like static vehicle wash firms for one that mostly that doc applies to. Others like mobile wheelie bin washers have their own stringent criteria they have to meet to be able to get a local council licences to operate.
Now if that chap was going around washing wheelie bins without a lic and not using the proper kit then yes there is a good chance he would get fined. However I'm not aware of anyone getting fined for using a wfp on windows, plastics, cladding etc nor cleaning paving, driveways, patios cladding etc be it on domestic or commercial jobs.
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Just checked to see if it's not April 1st ;D
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I have a life to finance - bills and the like. I'd be back out there forthwith regardless if a Hitleresque character tried to tell me I was breaking various regulations by carrying out my business. I dont for one minute thinks it's quite as black and white as the OP seems to be implying.
The word 'window' isn't mentioned once in that document.
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Guys this was all over the news a few years back, again its to do with washing cars, oil and so on going straight down the
drains also the amount of salt being washed of the cars and going down the drains during the gritting season was causing concern.
Nothing to do with window cleaning.
It was the petrol station owners who had invested large in automated machines with water collectors that where making the
most fuss.
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Surely you bumped into the the local nutter who just blurts out random jibberish to anyone . Otherwise the council would be out fining joe public left right and centre .
All I know that they have a case file on him, he also done a course on sealing drives, He showed them the written letters.
His last call to them was how to go about it the right way,
He was told to phone them with location to get granted permission then it could take 14 days to get it.
I will ask if I can have a copy of his letter to post here.
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Surely you bumped into the the local nutter who just blurts out random jibberish to anyone . Otherwise the council would be out fining joe public left right and centre .
All I know that they have a case file on him, he also done a course on sealing drives, He showed them the written letters.
His last call to them was how to go about it the right way,
He was told to phone them with location to get granted permission then it could take 14 days to get it.
I will ask if I can have a copy of his letter to post here.
wtf... who has a case file on him and how come he got reported and by whom?
I would like to get to the bottom of this as sounds like he has peed someone off to get reported in the first place surely?
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I have sent him the link of this asked him to join,
He was reported for driveway cleaning.
But it also includes everything apart from rain water
Hope he joins to fine out more
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This was about 3 months ago,
They told him they are now cracking down on this,
I agree I would also take my chances in court rather than give up everything I work for
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Would be interesting to find out his side of the story for sure.
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Something isn't adding up here, what's the difference in me paying somebody to wash my drive than doing it myself.
Does that mean householders are not allowed to wash their own drives ?
I think this guy could be falling for some sort of scam.
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It's all seems very vague to me what is actually going on if anything at all..
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Something isn't adding up here, what's the difference in me paying somebody to wash my drive than doing it myself.
Does that mean householders are not allowed to wash their own drives ?
I think this guy could be falling for some sort of scam.
Yes that may be the case, washing without any chemicals, hope he joins my link
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Something isn't adding up here, what's the difference in me paying somebody to wash my drive than doing it myself.
Does that mean householders are
not allowed to wash their own drives ?
I think this guy could be falling for some sort of scam.
I thought the same scam or jealous person ect,
He also thought it may be,
So he used a phone number for main office instead of number on letter.
He was shocked that they had a file on him about the case plus all company details ect
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Erm that document is dated 8 years ago, also it's about pollution. Unless you are adding something to your water, it's just that - water.
And a chem called vision :o
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Erm that document is dated 8 years ago, also it's about pollution. Unless you are adding something to your water, it's just that - water.
And a chem called vision :o
I had a feeling you might say that ;D
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Hi mate, i do car valeting and heard about this.
so i contacted my local water board via email (yorkshire water)
i spoke to the guy in charge of trade effluent, he said no one had ever asked him and kind of laughed at me, he said its such a minimal amount that no one is going to bother you about it and just to get on with it.
If you say so mr trade effluent guy.
As far as i know though it is illegal, its just a stupid law thats very , very rarely enforced, your mate is very unlucky
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Let's hope he joins this topic, I have not seen any proof from this person, Just spoken to him.
He as the link to this topic
It sound very genuine when talking, so he either joins or not.
Hopefully I have not been fed utter crap, but he keeps feeding me documents, but I have insisted he joins here..
So we wait
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How I meet this guy
I list a setup for sale on here and eBay, he contact by message on eBay
He asked how I collected my waste at first, then phoned me and told be about this story
Then wanted to build back up is business, but was concerned of the investigation,
I really do not know if I got some nutty chap on the phone, because he now cannot view my setup now as is wife left him, do not want to judge anybody,
I think I must be a soft touch, so if think I will give him till end of tomorrow to reply to my invite then lock thread.
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It smells like bull poop to me ;D
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Before I even started window cleaning, I thought I'd ring the council and find out if I'd need any licences or checks doing before I start (I didn't have a clue!) Anyways, got through to some bigwig who just kinda laughed and said no apart from a parking disc IF I wanted to park longer in a 1 hour zone then I'd have to pay £60 a year to make me exempt from some parking restrictions . Apart from that- nothing else
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When we clean a buildingS walls/facade/render - WE ALWAYS APPLY FOR PERMISSIONS FROM THE RELEVANT WATER AUTHORITY
In most cases we have to catch the water runoff and dispose of it - in all cases we have to write up a plan of what we are doing - advise on the amount of water we are using - and what chems we are using if any. The buildings we clean are polluted - the same as a car is - so water runoff must be contained and disposed of correctly. We often get permission to ensure waste goes into a waste water sewer - but this costs us money and time to get the permissions in place.
Where there is no sewer we HAVE to take away waste water and we have to make provisions for this - which often means recycling the water or carting it away and paying to dispose of it.
For all of you window cleaners - I don't think you have anything to worry about - we never have applied for permissions to buildings we clean windows only on.
For all you window cleaners who have started cleaning building by pressure washer/softwashing etc - you are more than likely breaking the law - and ignorance of the law is not a get out of jail free card.
Professional cleaning companies know what is required by law - its the so called cowboys who break the law and drive down prices by charging less for their services because they have no idea what they should be doing.
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When we clean a buildingS walls/facade/render - WE ALWAYS APPLY FOR PERMISSIONS FROM THE RELEVANT WATER AUTHORITY
In most cases we have to catch the water runoff and dispose of it - in all cases we have to write up a plan of what we are doing - advise on the amount of water we are using - and what chems we are using if any. The buildings we clean are polluted - the same as a car is - so water runoff must be contained and disposed of correctly. We often get permission to ensure waste goes into a waste water sewer - but this costs us money and time to get the permissions in place.
Where there is no sewer we HAVE to take away waste water and we have to make provisions for this - which often means recycling the water or carting it away and paying to dispose of it.
For all of you window cleaners - I don't think you have anything to worry about - we never have applied for permissions to buildings we clean windows only on.
For all you window cleaners who have started cleaning building by pressure washer/softwashing etc - you are more than likely breaking the law - and ignorance of the law is not a get out of jail free card.
Professional cleaning companies know what is required by law - its the so called cowboys who break the law and drive down prices by charging less for their services because they have no idea what they should be doing.
So as he was caught pressure washing a driveway, it seems is telling the truth, When he phoned them he mentioned is window cleaning, They replied unless it's rain water then yes this applies to this also.
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how does one catch all the water run off. block all the drains and have wet vacs constantly running.
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So as he was caught pressure washing a driveway, it seems is telling the truth, When he phoned them he mentioned is window cleaning, They replied unless it's rain water then yes this applies to this also.
It sounds part right. Its run off that is the issue. Pressure washing does create run off. WFP window cleaning does not really create run off, it soaks away generally instead.
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It seems utterly ridiculous to me as most households own a pressure washer in some form or another. Do they have to gain permission first or get investigated every time they attempt to wash their car, patio or driveway? Like hell do they.
As for wfp runoff on an environmental level the chap that told your friend that has got to be mentally retarded or something.
Like I mentioned before I can only assume the reason why your friend was reported was due to the fact he peed someone off surely?
You also did not answer my earlier questions: Who reported him to whom and why?
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We do it for money
Home users don't!
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Some might but who’s to know ;D
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Regarding cleaning domestic drives the only time I can see someone being reported is from the likes of a peed off resident if the area of runoffs including the road is not cleaned up properly and/or you happen to spray their property like driveway, paving, windows or parked vehicals with crap and leave it like it.
Now that is what a call a right cowboy operator…Yehaa! ;D
Oh and I forgot to mention sweeping all the waste slurry down a road storm drain instead of trying to bag most of it up to reduce the chance of the drain getting blocked . ;D
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It seems utterly ridiculous to me as most households own a pressure washer in some form or another. Do they have to gain permission first or get investigated every time they attempt to wash their car, patio or driveway? Like hell do they.
As for wfp runoff on an environmental level the chap that told your friend that has got to be mentally retarded or something.
Like I mentioned before I can only assume the reason why your friend was reported was due to the fact he peed someone off surely?
You also did not answer my earlier questions: Who reported him to whom and why?
First not a friend
He contacted me on a pressure washing setup add.
I have asked to join this forum,
He was coming to view my setup,
Now he tells me he had some bad news and will not be able to come.
He was reported by a neighbour of the job he was doing, His wife was sat in van and seen photos being taken but thought it was to see results on work, Next he was sent a letter,
Not sure who as the problem with this somebody to do with the under ground pipes.
Rhino seems to know as he stated he contacts to get approval,
This what he mentioned he had to do, but would take 14 days for a yes or no.
Sorry I cannot help anymore, all I wanted to do is sale my setup, now I think I'll keep it
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Below is a text he sent me
Saying he cannot come to view
His Text
Let me know m8 sorry my wife as left me so not in the best place at moment, I don't like letting anyone down, but if you find out any think let me know, also if you go to gov site search of ppg 3 there is more details
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I thought it might have been one of the things I had mentioned that peed someone off..
Just goes to show if you don't speak to the neighbours what you are planning to do beforehand then things can esculate very quickly.
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Below is a text he sent me
Saying he cannot come to view
His Text
Let me know m8 sorry my wife as left me so not in the best place at moment, I don't like letting anyone down, but if you find out any think let me know, also if you go to gov site search of ppg 3 there is more details
He sounds a right plonker to me ;D
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Below is a text he sent me
Saying he cannot come to view
His Text
Let me know m8 sorry my wife as left me so not in the best place at moment, I don't like letting anyone down, but if you find out any think let me know, also if you go to gov site search of ppg 3 there is more details
He sounds a right plonker to me ;D
Starting to agree, but must be hard when reported to go cleaning Drive ways
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Below is a text he sent me
Saying he cannot come to view
His Text
Let me know m8 sorry my wife as left me so not in the best place at moment, I don't like letting anyone down, but if you find out any think let me know, also if you go to gov site search of ppg 3 there is more details
He sounds a right plonker to me ;D
Starting to agree, but must be hard when reported to go cleaning Drive ways
The chap can't be that bothered as was looking to buy your kit
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Would be interested to see the case they are so say building against him.
I would say a mobile cleaner using a wfp has no environmental impact whatsoever for a start regarding run-offs.
Likewise pressure washing also has no environmental impact either just using tap water that most mobile cleaners use.
Regarding the control of waste as a mobile cleaner unless you use loads of chems and/or allow slurry etc to enter the drainage systems still they would have to prove you where in breach of the rules.
I'm no expert but if they wanted to enforce the law that would mean no one including joe public would be able to wash anything and allow it to go down the drain... including me stinky pants ;D
had this with the truckmounted carpet cleaning vans , tried to get use to get a waste carrying licence , but because we cleaned with our own water and took our own water away we didn't need them ,we also had to use eco friendly chems once proven it was given the all clear
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Would be interested to see the case they are so say building against him.
I would say a mobile cleaner using a wfp has no environmental impact whatsoever for a start regarding run-offs.
Likewise pressure washing also has no environmental impact either just using tap water that most mobile cleaners use.
Regarding the control of waste as a mobile cleaner unless you use loads of chems and/or allow slurry etc to enter the drainage systems still they would have to prove you where in breach of the rules.
I'm no expert but if they wanted to enforce the law that would mean no one including joe public would be able to wash anything and allow it to go down the drain... including me stinky pants ;D
had this with the truckmounted carpet cleaning vans , tried to get use to get a waste carrying licence , but because we cleaned with our own water and took our own water away we didn't need them ,we also had to use eco friendly chems once proven it was given the all clear
I'm supprised you did not need a waste carring licence as the waste still needs to be desposed of down a designated foul sewer drain.
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Its definately not bullpoop.
I go on a car valeting forum a lot and this issue has come up, its just very rarely enforced or policed but is technically illegal.
Like i said earlier when i spok to the guy in charge of trade effluent over the phone at yorkshire water he said no one had ever asked him about car valeting, only guys who operate staionery he said it wouldnt be an issue if mobile as it was such a small amount.
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It sounds to me like there was an issue alrteady between the neighbours, and the guy pressure washing the riveway got caught in the crossfire. When I need to stand on a neighbour's property to access a window or two, I always get the customer to discuss it with their neighbour. No discussion and the relevant windows get left uncleaned.
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Hi all
First of all this was for pressure washing.
The chap as joined the forum but not yet been accepted.
He as been dealing with Seven Trent.
Today he phoned me, to say he as now been given permission to carry on pressure washing, providing he checks with residents property which drain is the foul drain but flushing toilet ect.
Once located the waste water must go down this drain only, The other rain drains ect must be covered,
But they also said that they have ignored this problem for too long and will be clamping down on waste going down wrong drains.
The also asked for him to video or something to show he is helping to achieve this.
He was told he was lucky that it never ended being a large fine.
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About wfp
This was ok as mentioned by somebody on here Rhino I think.
This would normally disappear on the ground before reaching the wrong drainage.
The guy from seven Trent was out to get him, but today the same guy as come sort of good.
The man from seven Trent said the report did him a favour in the end, because you will now be getting written permission from seven Trent to continue working mobile, providing he followers the written procedure given from seven Trent.
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Interesting subject, looking at Anglian water this seems to apply to trade premises only it makes no mention of mobile companies and cleaning as part of a production process, as such should you need consent you would need one for each property you are going to work on.
Quite complicated on what's acceptable and what is not, in general any pollution ( other than a major oil spill ) that you pressure off with water would at some stage naturally go to the drain anyway being carried there in rainwater :-\
Maybe the guy used to jet all the slurry into the drain rather than ( as smurf said ) bag it
Darran