Posted on 10/25/2013 10:10:17 AM PDT by markomalley
It’s hard to wave your spirit fingers when the city shuts down the cheerleading squad’s fundraising car wash to protect the environment.
This is what happened to Lincoln High School cheerleaders trying to raise money to attend a national competition in April. The San Jose Mercury reports that local environmental officials warned the high school cheerleaders that their car wash violated the city’s water discharge laws.
“We had a visit from the city of San Jose Environmental Services Department who said that the car washes at Hoover [Middle School] are in violation of water discharge laws, therefore we had to cancel this and all future car washes,” said an email that was sent out to neighborhood email lists on Oct. 18.
“Anything that is not storm water or rain water is considered a pollutant,” said Jennie Loft, acting communications manager for San Jose’s Environmental Services Department. “If it goes into a storm drain, that pollutant will harm wildlife and habitats in the creeks. Water goes directly from the storm drains into our creeks.”
The city intervened in response to two complaints received about the car wash events Lincoln High Schoolers had been holding at Hoover Middle School. City officials reached out to school and district staff to give them information on how to prevent pollutants from getting into storm drains.
The city also gave some tips on how they can have legally compliant cars washes.
The Mercury reports: “Conduct car washing over gravel, grassy area, or other earthen areas if possible… Ensure that wash water (soapy or not) does not run into a street, gutter, or storm drain… Wash water from paved areas should be collected and diverted either into the sanitary sewer system or a landscaped area… Use different methods to protect the storm drain system… Ensure no soap stains remain on the ground.”
These byzantine regulations don’t just apply to high school sports teams struggling to raise money, but also to individuals who want to give their car a rinse.
“What most people should do if washing their cars at home is park it on the lawn so the water is diverted into landscape,” Loft said. “Or go to a designated neighborhood car wash, so it doesn’t go into the storm drain.”
According to the Mercury, the Lincoln High School cheerleaders still need funds to get to their competition and are welcoming contributions by check to “Lincoln Cheer 2013-2014, Lincoln High School, 555 Dana Ave., San Jose, 95126, attention Mrs. Phillips.”
It looks bigger than the RV, lol
I know... we will get a long hose and siphon it from the Gulf! Here, you suck it to get it started I think. This pln could use some work.
U R absolutely right. I just hate to see something so “American” as a car-wash to raise funds shut down due to “environmental” concerns. It just struck me wrong. Also, I never wish to stir discontent with fellow Freepers, as we are all on the same team. Go America!!! Lol!!
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It is caring about stewardship and the responsibility God gave us to care for and respect His creation.
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Your post rings true. Are there any biodegrading cleansers these kids can use for car wash fundraisers? And, for adults, too. Some cleansers I've used in the past made me want to call HAZMAT.
Good idea. We don’t have a place to put one.
Really? Hmmmm.....what is the towing capacity of that? I am currently looking for a solid, durable tow vehicle.
Oh I would hate to see fund raising practices like this shut down too. I wonder if they could like the MD fund raiser where you have bail someone out of “jail”. Just think students could “arrest” teachers and administrators then “bail money” is sought for their release. I can’t see how this could go wrong. Either the money is paid and the funds are raised or the money is not paid and the teachers and administrators quietly fade into obscurity in some forgotten gulag. Ah bliss.
I don’t think they are overly worried about the soap but about what else might be carried in the water flow as it makes its way through the storm drain system. But even soap in large enough amounts (which can be small amounts accumulating from different sources) can be a problem which is why quite a few State and National Parks have rules about washing in the lake and river water found there.
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I would wash my own car and drive by to make a donation for fundraising.
Maybe get them to just wash wheels so they would feel they did something to earn money for the fundraising and not being given $$$ without doing any work.
5,000 lbs.
The Xterra has a 4.0 litre V6 engine with 265 hp. The Frontier (same vehicle except its a truck) can tow 6,000 lbs. Because the Frontier has a longer wheelbase.
I absolutely love my X.
Yes, it’s true, this man has no D*k
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Maybe God.
Maybe deep water wells.
FABULOSO
everytime my wife mops with that stuff I head for the garage
I equate the smell of that stuff with my mom. She uses tons of it in my house when she comes to visit.
The chemical compound dihydrogen monoxide is known to the State Of California to cause lack of thirst, increased urination, and sudden violent death.
Its always a generous small business that pays for the water..I know they are evil in the mind of the left and these events show that we need more centralized control of water
I'm envious...I need a road trip to get my Mi Tierra fix.
Best tortilla soup in the state, and their bakery's awesome.
as long as biodegradable cleaning products are used, run off from the car wash into the storm drain system should not be problem for natures inhabitants in the creeks or the plant life - they will break down before any systemic calamity from their discharge occurs
What? You mean they didn’t file their an environmental impact report with the EPA? Throw em in jail.
“... they also waste water...”
Right. We can’t have that, what with water being a non-renewable resource and all. /s
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