Owen B. Pickett United States Custom House Restorative Wash
The Owen B. Pickett United States Custom House, located at 101 East Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, stands as a testament to the city’s rich maritime heritage. Designed by Ammi B. Young in the Classical Revival style, construction began in 1852 and concluded in 1859, replacing an earlier 1819 custom house. The building has served multiple functions over the years, including housing customs offices, the post office, and even serving as a dungeon for Federal troops between 1862 and 1865. In 2001, it was renamed in honor of U.S. Representative Owen B. Pickett, recognizing his contributions to the region.
Envirowash was tasked with pressure washing this historical building in Norfolk, VA, which you must follow water reclamation and stormwater management regulations to prevent pollution from entering the city’s waterways. Here’s how we followed state, and local ordinances.
1. Wastewater Containment & Collection
• Norfolk’s stormwater permit requires measures to prevent wastewater or in our case wash water from entering storm drains. You must use containment systems such as berms, vacuums, or mats to capture wash water.
2. Proper Disposal of Wash Water
• Collected wash water must be disposed of properly. Dumping it into storm drains is prohibited because those drains lead directly to local waterways. Instead, wastewater may need to be directed to an approved sanitary sewer connection with permission from the local wastewater authority.
3. Use of Reclaimed Water
• In this case we did not use any of the reclaimed water but we could in certain scenarios where filters on our specially designed reclamation trailer could then be reused properly.
4. Chemical & Contaminant Management
• If using detergents, degreasers, or other chemicals, they must be biodegradable and compliant with DEQ regulations. High-pressure washing that dislodges contaminants (such as lead paint, oil, or mold treatments) may require additional filtration or disposal methods as well.
5. Permit & Compliance
• Some permits were required such as sidewalk closure permits and portable hydrant meter rentals for this project.
We are Virginia's historical washing experts!
