Keeping your car clean by taking it to a car wash is a real treat; it comes out shiny and smells clean, and you also don’t have to do all the work yourself. However, with the water crisis and the number of vehicles washed daily, you might worry that taking your car to the car wash adds to the problem. There are methods that car wash services use to reduce the amount of water they use while still keeping their clients happy and saving water. If you own a car wash service or are planning to start a car wash business, you can compare quotes to find water rates best suited to your business needs. But first, let’s discuss how much water a car wash uses.
How Much Water A Car Wash Uses
On average, a car wash uses between 8-15 litres of water per wash, depending on the method. This is a huge amount of water, especially since a car wash could wash between 20-40 cars daily.
Most businesses have started saving water by installing a reclaim system that allows water to be recycled and reused minimising water waste.
Different car wash methods
There are different car wash methods that car wash businesses use. These are:
- Automatic Car Wash
An automatic car wash means cleaning your car through a tunnel of brushes, towels, and a dryer, and this process uses between 35-40 litres of water per wash.
- Touchless Car Wash
The touchless car wash also involves pushing your car through a tunnel, but without the use of brushes or towels instead, a high-pressure washer is used to wash your car by spraying detergent on it and cleaning your vehicle. This method uses between 70-80 litres of water per wash.
- Hand Car Wash
The hand car wash involves using hands to wash the car. You can decide if you want a hand car wash at a car wash business or you can decide to do it at home. This car washing method uses 40-100 litres of water per wash.
- Conveyorized Tunnel System
The car is placed on a conveyor belt and moves to different stations where the vehicle is cleaned. This method of car washing uses 100-200 litres of water. However, this water usage depends on if it is a complete cleaning service or just the exterior being washed.
What Type Of Water Is Used At A Car Wash?
Three types of water are used within the car wash process. They are freshwater, filtered, and reclaimed water.
The freshwater is supplied from the municipality or a well if one is close to the car wash. However, the freshwater quality should be inspected by the owners before use. The water from a well would need to be treated for bacteria.
The freshwater would have to be tested at least every six months to ensure it is safe for use.
Filtered water has been through reverse osmosis and is used for spot-free washes. This means there is less water needed to do the final rinse, as there are no water spots on the car’s exterior when it comes to the final process of the car wash after putting it through the process of the wash.
Reclaimed water has been used and then cleaned and used again.
Car Wash Recycling Process to Save Water
Recycling water at a car wash can prevent water waste by up to 80%. Saving this amount of water is beneficial for businesses that might experience water shortages based on their area.
Using recycled water also saves money on costs as you are not wasting water and paying high rates for water that has not been used.
How does water get recycled at a car wash?
With a standard filtration system, water can be saved and reused. The process is as follows:
- The car is placed on the conveyor belt within the tunnel and sprayed with soap and water.
- The water used falls into a clarifier under the conveyor belt.
- The Clarifier is a tank that can hold up to 15 000 litres of water and treats the collected water.
- The filtration system is inside the clarifier. This collects all the grime and dirt particles extracting it from the water, making it clean to be reused.
- Once the water is cleaned, it gets pumped back into circulation within the tunnel, ready to be used for the next car.
However, although car wash companies use recycled water to wash cars, they use fresh water for the last rinse to ensure that there is no dirt or chemicals stuck to the car’s exterior.
How Do Car Washes Get Rid of Used Water?
Car wash businesses need to dispose of used water through proper drainage systems that the government has approved because of all the chemicals they contain. This process is to protect the environment from contamination within the sewerage system.
If car wash businesses do not adhere to the government policy around the drainage of the used water, they can be liable to pay a fine.
Conclusion
Although car washes seemingly use a large amount of water to fully operate their business. They have put measures in place to avoid unnecessary waste and cut costs on the amount of money they spend paying for water.
