Don't Wait Till The Well Runs Dry!

Ben Franklin put it well with one of his famous quotes: "We will not appreciate water until the Well Runs Dry" It is truly a wise person that recognizes the value of this statement and takes steps to preserve their existing resources today, before the well is dry.

With the droughts that have plagued much of the country over the past several years, the subject of car wash water recycling has become a topic that many owners/operators are being forced to address. Cities that are being affected by droughts are desperately seeking water conservation methods and most seem to have no sympathy towards the car wash owner when it's time to cut usage. From regulating hours of operation to complete shutdowns, the drought restrictions that are often implemented can be devastating to the business and livelihood of the car wash owner(s) that aren't prepared.

Water (the Universal Solvent) can be easily subjected to the old rules of "Supply and Demand." Supply goes down, demand goes up and vice versa. Unfortunately, when the supply goes down, the demand AND price both go up. Since Mother Nature is usually the one regulating the supply, the only real control we have is on the demand.

How can I reduce my demand?

Well, you could restrict your hours or days of operation, but wait, that's what they wanted to do to you! Let's see…………you could block off half of your spray tips or cut the volume of the tips in 1/2…..hummmmm ½ a car wash? "That won't work for me………….or my customers."

Can I reuse the water?

Absolutely! When done correctly, recycling water makes very good business sense. A 60% to 90% savings in water and sewer bills can often be the sole driving force that motivates owners to enrolling in a water-recycling program. In addition, recycling water is a very effective means for carwash operators to meet and resolve conservation and environmental standards and avoid drought restrictions. The drastic reduction in water and sewer use can also lead to substantial savings on high sewer impact fees. These savings are often substantially more than the cost of a recycling system itself, offering an instant return on investment as well as an instant increase in profits.

There are so many systems on the market, how do I know which one to use? Better yet, which one works?

As with any product, the sales person is going to tell you that he/she has the best system on the market. Most will have a list a mile long on why you should use their equipment.

A good reclaim company should ask you the following questions prior to recommending or quoting equipment to you:

Is this New Construction or an existing location?

What is the size and configuration of the car wash?

Self Serve? Automatic? Tunnel?

Where is the facility located?

Snow? Salt? Clay? Manure? Etc. All can affect the system.

Are there sewer impact fees associated?

(New Construction) A good reclaim company should be able to help you get these fees reduced or eliminated.

What means do you have for getting rid of excess water?

Sewer, Irrigation, leach field etc.

What volume of vehicles do you anticipate washing per day?

This helps determine the dirt load for the system.

Do you have existing tanks?

How Many? What is the volume of each? Can they be put to use?

Do you have space for tanks?

In ground? Above Ground?

What wash chemicals will you be using?

Since the chemicals go down the drain, the reclaim system will have to deal with it.

As you can see, there is a multitude of factors that need to be addressed prior to recommending a reclaim system. If they don't ask the questions, they are not covering all the bases for you.

After answering the questions above, the manufacturer or distributor should be able to help you select a system that is best suited and most cost effective for your application. He should take the guesswork and hassles out of the equation for you. He/she should provide you with complete drawings, specifications, recommended tanking designs, a quote and technical support during any phase of your project.

What type of system is right for you?

There are many factors, such as wash loads, sewer availability, and site location that will determine what type of system and tanking you need. Every system on the market has drawbacks in some form or another. Most of the time the drawbacks are not pointed out or are hidden by the sales person because it's their downfall. If they promise a system that will never need maintenance or attention, it's time to move to the next supplier because they are taking you for a ride.

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