If folks would go about this in a common sense way......
* Aesthetic washing of private residences SHOULD be restricted unless the property owner can provide a water source outside of the restrictions. There is not ONE reason why we should be wasting a precious resource like water for vanity purposes. If someone has the resources to have a pool in the back yard - use their pool to draw water from. It's not like anyone is using them this time of year.
* Most restrictions are for city provided water sources. We were told we could haul all the water we wanted out of the river. A pump and filter is a relatively small price to pay in order to work. We just finished a job where we drew out of the homeowners pond and irrigation system. Not a drop of city water.
* Flatworkers should look into the waterless cleaners. It eliminates more issues than just drought restrictions. It also alleviates reclamation problems - quite the EPA effective method!
* Commercial restaurant cleaning (dumpster pads) become a sanitation issue.
While, yes, I was a screaming mimi about our cities' implementations, I can also recognize the need for controlling water usage and compromised with what would be allowed. This isn't something that we should keep in mind only while it's an immediate crisis - this is something that we should all have had in our minds from the get go.
Next question - is a drought the only problem that our industry faces? NO - I recall last year multiple companies bitching because it rained TOO much (no stain was being applied because wood was too wet) Nobody was getting paid then either. It's already snowing up north - do they get relief because it's too cold to wash?
Bottom line is all businesses face potential problems and should have a back up plan......the way I see it - it's a little over a month before Christmas - every retail store in the US is hiring for the season. There's no reason for not utilizing your time wisely. If you have stored up for the winter, get busy looking into alternative ways to make money in the spring. If not, get over to Walmart and drop an application.
I might sound very callous but very very few of us on these forums were born power washers (except maybe Bob
) Nearly all of us had jobs or careers before we decided to become self employed washers. Fall back on what you know until the issue is over.
Celeste
