Don’t assume a parkade floor drain is an approved destination for dirty wash water. You need to know where it connects and whether the proposed discharge is allowed. At City Wide, we offer parkade cleaning services and catch basin services; include drainage and wash-water handling in the scope conversation before choosing a cleaning date.
Table of Contents
Start with the drain connection
The drain’s location or appearance is not a drainage plan. Ask the property manager for the building’s records and have uncertain connections checked by an appropriate drainage professional. A grate, catch basin or sump does not by itself identify the final discharge route or establish permission.
- Connection known? If not, resolve the drainage route before approving discharge.
- Wastewater assessed? Describe the expected dirt, residues, products and volume for the proposed work.
- Destination accepted? Confirm applicable conditions, permissions and any required collection or treatment.
- Plan documented? Record who is responsible before washing starts.
Storm and sanitary routes are different
The City of Vancouver’s Sewer and Watercourse By-law defines storm sewers as carrying storm water, clear-water waste and uncontaminated water, rather than wastewater. Section 3.2 prohibits contaminated water or wastewater entering a storm sewer. Section 3.3 also restricts specified substances across sewerage, storm drainage and watercourses. The practical point is to assess the actual wastewater and route, not treat a drain as an unrestricted outlet. Read By-law 8093, sections 1.2, 3.2 and 3.3.
| Possible arrangement | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Storm connection | How will wash water be kept out, and what accepted collection or disposal route will be used? |
| Sanitary or combined connection | What wastewater conditions, approvals or treatment requirements apply to this discharge? |
| Sump or separator | Where does it discharge, what does it do, and is its use suitable for this work? |
| Connection unknown | Who will confirm the route before the cleaning plan is approved? |
Sanitary drainage does not settle the whole question
Metro Vancouver’s permit guidance says waste discharge permits are required for high-volume discharges and/or restricted wastes as defined in its Sewer Use Bylaw. Vancouver also explains that it enforces municipal and regional requirements. Ask the relevant authority whether your proposed discharge needs approval; this guide does not determine permit eligibility for a particular job. Metro Vancouver’s permit guidance; Vancouver’s wastewater permit information.
The Vancouver bylaw is a City of Vancouver source, not a single rulebook for every municipality in Greater Vancouver. If your property is elsewhere, verify the requirements with that municipality and the relevant regional authority.
Put handling and responsibility in the quote
Ask the contractor to explain what happens to the water and removed material from your job. Have any containment, collection, transport, disposal or testing requirements identified rather than assuming they are included in a floor-cleaning price.
- Who confirms the drainage connections and any discharge conditions?
- What work areas, products and expected residues are covered?
- What collection and handling arrangements are proposed?
- Who obtains any necessary approval, and when must it be available?
- Which disposal or service records will be supplied, if required?
Keep the accepted plan with the work order. If a route or requirement remains uncertain, resolve it before discharge rather than relying on an assumption made on cleaning day.
Questions about parkade wash water
Does biodegradable detergent make storm-drain discharge acceptable?
The product description does not establish permission for the resulting wastewater. The dirt and residues removed from the floor, the drainage route and the applicable discharge requirements still need to be considered. Ask about the complete wash-water plan, not just the detergent label.
Does a sump or separator mean we can discharge through it?
Not automatically. Confirm its purpose, connection and suitability for the proposed wastewater with the appropriate people. Maintenance of a structure and permission to use it as a discharge route are separate questions.
Do all parkade cleaning jobs need the same disposal arrangement?
No single arrangement is established here. The building, drainage route, wastewater and applicable conditions need to be assessed for the work. Ask for the job-specific arrangement and responsibility to be clear in the accepted quote.
Bring drainage into the first conversation
Send your address, available drain drawings, site photos and the surfaces you want cleaned. Our commercial pressure washing cost guide explains other questions that can affect a quote.
