Macon, GA goes after garage-gas station conversion detail/hand car washes for allowing storm drain pollution. I can remember a time when we were in the Macon GA. we stopped and talked to be head of the DEP and showed them pictures of people polluting after someone complained about our company we knew it was a competitor. They looked at the pictures and then looked us in the eyes and said “we do not want any problems around here, you must be from somewhere else are you from California?” we said yes, we were from California, but that makes no difference, because you are not allowed to pollute anywhere in this country no matter where you are because the NPDES permits requires that you follow EPA laws.
http://www.carwash.com/news.asp'mode=4&N_ID=45362
We could see how someone who would not stick up for their rights could get in serious problems there. We are the car wash guys and we do not put up with baloney. They left us alone after that, but when we went back two months later we noticed nothing had changed. What we witnessed was water running down the storm drain coming from detail shops. One street had several shops on it. Not only was it a waste of water, but also a waste of money. We were also quite alarmed to see the employees of these companies using Acid for wheels and other chemicals on the driveways of these shops while it ran into the gutter down the street into the storm drain not even a quarter mile from the river. The gentleman we talk to appeared to be scared of us because we were from out-of-town and looked like we had our act together. He also looked over and fearful that we might cause a legal action, which we would have. After reading this article and thinking back to That Meeting and how our employee felt who worked for our franchisee at the time. It seems to me that there is a real problem in all small towns, but in Macon, Georgia it is even worse that we could have expected.
If you are going to start a mobile detailing business or carwash you may want to check out the area first and see what type of environmental enforcement you are up against, as many of these folks do not always realize how mobile washing companies do things. Something to think about.
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