Overview of car wash wastewater

A car wash (also written as "carwash") or auto wash is a facility used to clean the exterior and, in some cases, the interior of motor vehicles.[citation needed] While there are many types of car washes, most fall into the following categories: Hand car wash facilities, where the vehicle is washed by employees Self-service facilities, which are generally coin-operated, where the customer does the washing, including "jet washing" In-bay automatics, which consist of an automatic machine that rolls back and forth over a stationary vehicle - often seen at filling stations and stand-alone wash sites Tunnel washes, which use a conveyor to move the vehicle through a series of fixed cleaning mechanisms Chemical car wash, also known as waterless car wash, uses chemicals to wash and polish car surface Thought to have originated in Australia and claims to be an eco-friendly car wash method.[citation needed] Steam car washes use a jet of steam and micro fiber towels, some include detergent injection Known to have originated from South Korea, steam car washes have been especially popular as a low-investment, eco-friendly car wash solution in Asia, Middle East and Europe thanks to its sanitizing features and mobility.[citation needed] Mobile Car Washes, often also serving as mobile detailing systems, which carry plastic water tanks and use pressure washers Sometimes these systems are mounted on trailers, on trucks, or in vans Generally these operators also have a generator to run a shop vac., buffers and other tools as well.[citation needed] Mechanized car washes, especially those with brushes, were once avoided by some meticulous car owners because of the risk of damaging the finish Paint finishes have improved as have car washing processes, and this perception of vehicle damage is much less today However, this perception was the motive behind the rise of facilities utilizing "brushless" (cloth) and "touch-free" (high-pressure water) equipment, as well as modern "foam" washing wheels made of closed cell foam In today's modern car wash facilities, whether tunnel, in-bay automatic or self-serve, soaps and other cleaning solutions used are designed to loosen and eliminate dirt and grime This is in contrast to earlier times, when hydrofluoric acid, a hazardous chemical, was commonly used as a cleaning agent in the industry by some operators There has been a strong move in the industry to shift to safer cleaning solutions Most car wash facilities are required by law to treat and/or reuse their water and may be required to maintain waste-water discharge permits, in contrast to unregulated facilities or even driveway washing (at one's home), where waste-water can end up in the storm drain and, eventually, in streams, rivers and lakes [edit]Self-serve car wash A multi-bay self-service car wash, with an automatic "touchless" bay at the far left and manual bays on the right A simple and automated type of car wash that is typically coin-operated or token-operated self-service system Newer self-service car washes offer the ability to pay with credit cards or loyalty cards The vehicle is parked inside a large covered bay that is equipped with a trigger gun and wand (a high-pressure sprayer) and a scrub foam-brush When customers insert coins or tokens into the controller, they can choose options such as soap, tire cleaner, wax or clear water rinse, all dispensed from the sprayer, or scrub the vehicle with the foam-brush The number of coins or tokens inserted determines the amount of time customers have to operate the equipment; in most instances, a minimum number of coins are necessary to start the equipment These facilities are often equipped with separate vacuum stations that allow customers to clean the upholstery and rugs inside their cars Some self-service car washes offer hand-held dryers, a somewhat new feature [edit]Automatic car wash Rotating brushes inside a conveyor car-wash The first conveyorized automatic car washes appeared in the late 1930s Conveyorized automatic car washes consist of tunnel-like buildings into which customers (or attendants) drive Some car washes have their customers pay through a computerized POS, or point of sale unit, also known as an "automatic cashier", which may take the place of a human cashier The mechanism inputs the wash PLU into a master computer or a tunnel controller automatically When the sale is automated, after paying the car is put into a line-up called the stack or queue The stack moves sequentially, so the wash knows what each car purchased After pulling up to the tunnel entrance, an attendant usually guides the customer onto the conveyor At some washes, the system will send the correct number of rollers automatically, based on tire sensors The tire sensor lets the wash know where the wheels are and how far apart they are On other systems the employee may guide the customer on and press a 'Send Car' button on the tunnel controller, to manually send the rollers which push the car through When the customer is on the conveyor, the attendant (or signage) will instruct the customer to put the vehicle into neutral, release all brakes, and refrain from steering Failure to so can cause an accident on the conveyor The rollers come up behind the tires, pushing the car through a detector, which measures vehicle length, allowing the controller to tailor the wash to each individual vehicle The equipment frame, or arches, vary in number and type A good car wash makes use of many different pieces of equipment and stages of chemical application to thoroughly clean the vehicle A vehicle in the high pressure rinse stage of the wash Also visible is the conveyor The carwash will typically start cleaning with pre-soaks applied through special arches They may apply a lower pH (mild acid) followed by a higher pH (mild alkali), or the order may be reversed depending on chemical suppliers and formula used Chemical formulas and concentrations will also vary based upon seasonal dirt and film on vehicles, as well as exterior temperature, and other factors Chemical dilution and application works in combination with removal systems based on either high pressure water, friction, or a combination of both Chemical substances, while they are industrial strength, are not used in harmful concentrations since car washes are designed not to harm a vehicle's components or finish The customer next encounters tire and wheel nozzles, which the industry calls CTAs (Chemical Tire Applicators) These will apply specialized formulations, which remove brake dust and build up from the surface of the wheels and tires The next arch will often be wraparounds, usually made of a soft cloth, or closed cell foam material These wraparounds should rub the front bumper and, after washing the sides, will follow across the rear of the vehicle cleaning the rear including the license plate area Past the first wraps or entrance wraps may be a tire brush that will scrub the tires and wheels This low piece is often located beneath a mitter (the hanging ribbon-like curtains of cloth that move front to back or side to side) or top wheels There may also be rocker panel washers which are shorter in size (ranging in size from 18 inches [45 cm] up to 63 inches [160 cm] tall) that clean the lower parts of the vehicle Most rocker brushes house the motor below the brush hub so they don't inhibit cloth movement and allow the brush to be mounted under a support frame or below a mitter Some car washes have multiple mitters, or a combination of mitters and top brushes Typical "tunnel" car wash view from the inside After the mitter or top brush(es) the car may pass through a second set of wraparounds This may also be where high pressure water streams are used to clean difficult to reach parts of the vehicle The car generally passes over an under carriage wash and/or has high pressure nozzles pointed at it from various positions Next may be a tire spinner, high pressure nozzles angled specifically to clean wheels and tires After the several wash stations the vehicle may go through triple foamers, usually red, blue, and yellow, although colors can be customized with higher end chemical suppliers The triple foam process includes special cleaners as well as some protective paint sealant Some washes have multiple rinse stages, usually offering a protectant as an option Protectants vary by manufacturer Near the rinse is where a tire shining machine is often installed, which is designed to apply silicone tire dressing to the tires This application makes the tires look good (new, and glossy) and preserves the rubber Next the vehicle is treated with a drying agent and a final rinse Many carwashes utilize a "spot free" rinse of soft water that has been filtered of chlorine and sent through semi permeable membranes to produce highly purified water that will not leave spots After using spot free water, the vehicle is finished with forced air drying, in some cases utilizing heat to produce a very dry car A touchless car wash Older automatic washes - a majority of which were built prior to 1980 - used to use brushes with soft nylon bristles, which tended to leave a nylon deposit in the shape of a bristle, called brushmarks, on the vehicle's paint Many newer washes in the US are either cloth (which is not harmful to a car's finish, as long as it is flushed with plenty of water to remove the grit from previous washes) or a closed cell foam brush, which does not hold dirt or water, thus is far less likely to harm any painted finish Closed cell foam brushes can, in fact, provide a gentle polishing effect that will shine the vehicle's surface during a wash In order to avoid marking paintwork, "touchless" (aka "touchfree" or "no-touch") car washes were developed A touchless car wash uses high water pressure to clean the vehicle instead of brushes, minimizing the chance of surface damage to the vehicle There are five primary factors to cleaning a vehicle successfully using a touchless system These five factors are water quality, water temperature, chemistry, time, and water pressure generated by the equipment If these factors are all set properly, vehicles will come out clean and shiny without the chance of vehicle damage caused by brushes At "full-service" car washes, the exterior of the car is washed mechanically with conveyorized equipment, or in some cases by hand, with attendants available to dry the car manually, and to clean the interior (normally consisting of cleaning the windows, wiping the front and side dashes, and vacuuming the carpet and upholstery) Many full service car washes also provide "detailing" services, which may include polishing and waxing the car's exterior by hand or machine, shampooing and steaming interiors, and other services to provide thorough cleaning and protection to the car [edit]Bikini car wash of the drivers Hooters restaurants usually have bikini car washes in the summer to attract customers [edit]Environmental factors The primary environmental considerations for car washing are: Use of water and energy resources; Contamination of surface waters; Contamination of soil and groundwater Use of water supplies and energy are self-evident, since car washes are users of such resources The professional car wash industry has made great strides in reducing its environmental footprint, a trend that will continue to accelerate due to regulation and consumer demand Many car washes already use water reclamation systems to significantly reduce water usage and a variety of energy usage reduction technologies These systems may be mandatory where water restrictions are in place Contamination of surface waters may arise from the rinse discharging to storm drains, which eventually drain to rivers and lakes Chief pollutants in such wash-water include phosphates; oil and grease; and lead This is almost exclusively an issue for home/driveway washing, and parking lot style charity washes Professional carwashing is a "non-point source" of discharge that has the ability to capture these contaminants and have them undergo treatment before being released into sanitary systems (Water and contaminants that enter storm water drains does not undergo treatment, and is released directly into rivers, lakes and streams.) Soil contamination is sometimes related to such surface runoff, but more importantly is associated with soil contamination from underground fuel tanks or auto servicing operations which commonly are ancillary uses of car wash sites — but not an issue for car washing itself For these reasons, some state and local environmental groups (the most notable being the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) have begun campaigns to encourage consumers to use professional car washes as opposed to driveway washing, including moving charity car wash fund raisers from parking lots to professional car washes [edit]See also Auto detailing Jetwash [edit]References [edit]External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Car washes Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Car washing Waterless Car Cleaning Products How Car Washes Work at HowStuffWorks International Carwash Association DMOZ Directry Listing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_wash Office of Small Business - Publications How Do I Handle My Professional Car Wash Wastewater? Information presented in this publication is intended to provide a general understanding of the statutory and regulatory requirements governing car wash wastewater This information is not intended to replace, limit or expand upon the complete statutory and regulatory requirements found in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code These requirements can be found on line at www.ipcb.state.il.us Problems viewing Acrobat PDF files? This document is also available in Adobe Acrobat Format How Do I Handle My Professional Car Wash Wastewater? (PDF 129K file, pages) Professional car washes are an easy way for consumers to remove dirt and grime from their vehicles The dirt washed off vehicles as well as the cleaning materials themselves may be harmful to the environment As the operator of a professional car wash, what must you to keep this dirt and the chemicals used in the cleaning process from being released into the environment? This fact sheet provides a description of the types of professional car washes, and explains why car wash activities are a concern to the environment, how to manage and discharge wastewater, how to manage sludge, how to prevent groundwater contamination, and how to become more environmentally friendly and conserve water What Types of Professional Car Washes Are There? Most professional car washes can be classified as conveyor, inbay automatic, or self-service systems These are described below In a conveyor car wash system, the car moves on a conveyor belt while the exterior of the car is washed The two basic technologies that are available for the conveyor wash cycle are friction and frictionless The friction wash uses brushes or curtain strips made of cloth or other material to clean the vehicle, while the frictionless uses high-pressure nozzles In addition, the conveyor car wash is either full service or exterior only In a full-service conveyor car wash, both the interior and exterior of the car are cleaned Exterior-only car washes not clean the interior At an in-bay automatic car wash, the vehicle is parked in a bay and remains stationary while a machine moves back and forth over the vehicle to clean it A professional in-bay car wash uses brushes made of nylon or other material, soft cloth strips, or automatic washers consisting of highpressure nozzles In a self-service car wash, the customers wash the vehicles A wand dispenses water and cleanser at varying amounts and pressures In addition, a low-pressure brush may be available to assist in the wash cycle Why Are Car Washes a Concern For the Environment? Professional car wash systems create wash wastewater that can have a great impact on the environment if not properly managed and discharged Contaminants in wash wastewater include the following: Oil and grease, which contain hazardous materials such as benzene, lead, zinc, chromium, arsenic, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, and other metals Detergents, including biodegradable detergents, that can be poisonous to fish Phosphates, which are plant nutrients and can cause excessive growth of nuisance plants in water bodies Chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid and ammonium bifluoride products (ABF), and solvent-based solutions that are harmful to living organisms Chemicals and oils used for the maintenance of cleaning machinery (for automatic systems) Debris that can clog storm sewer inlets and grates and thereby prevent storm water drainage to the sewer Washing vehicles on hard, impervious surfaces such as concrete areas can cause wash wastewater flow into storm drains It is necessary to find out if area storm and sanitary sewers are combined or separate systems Many storm and s a n i t a ry sewers in the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) are combined before the final discharge point; therefore, most wastewater is treated before it is discharged to surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and streams Many newer areas and other cities have separate sewer systems; therefore, wastewater discharged to storm sewers is discharged directly to water bodies without treatment to remove pollutants Car wash wastewater can be harmful to humans, plants, and animals if released untreated to surface water bodies Additionally, allowing wash wastewater to soak into the ground can be harmful because the wastewater may contaminate soil and groundwater More information on how to prevent soil and groundwater contamination is presented later in this fact sheet How Should I Manage and Discharge My Wastewater? The Clean Water Act requires professional car washes to route car wash wastewater to water treatment facilities or to state-approved drainage facilities designed to protect the environment Filtration of the wastewater may be conducted before discharge to a sanitary sewer Filtration is recommended so that fewer solids are present in the wash wastewater stream discharge to the sanitary sewer system Filtration is mandated by the MWRDGC for wastewater that contains particles greater than 0.5 inch in diameter Once filtration has taken place, you will be left with a sludge that must be disposed of Details for proper disposal are discussed below Do I Need a Permit for My Wastewater Discharges? A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is required for businesses that discharge car wash wastewater directly into a surface water body or to a storm sewer that discharges to a surface water body If car wash wastewater is discharged directly to a sanitary sewer system, a business owner must apply for a state construction permit and may also need to apply for a state operating permit Contact the Office of Small Business for more information on Illinois EPA water permits Because car wash regulations vary from city to city, it is wise to contact the city storm water program or department or water department to determine exact local permit requirements How Do I Manage My Sludge? Sludge can be disposed of wet or dry The requirements associated with each are described below The sludge can be dried by removing it from the car wash system and allowing the water to evaporate The sludge may be dried at the site where it is generated without a Bureau of Land permit If you take the sludge somewhere else to dry, the drying site must have a Bureau of Land permit You must transport the sludge under manifest as special waste unless the sludge is certified as non-special Sludge which is certified as non-special waste can be disposed of with your general refuse Refer to the fact sheet “Do I Have A Special Waste?” for more information on special waste and certifying your waste as non-special Special waste must be handled and disposed of in accordance with specific Illinois EPA regulations For more information on special waste, refer to the fact sheet “Do I Have A Special Waste?” You must determine if the amount of special waste that you have generated requires you to obtain a generator identification number For more information on this determination, refer to the fact sheet “Does My Business Need Generator Identification Numbers And Manifests?” Also, special waste must be disposed of in a licensed, special waste disposal facility and must be transported by a licensed special waste hauler using a special waste manifest Disposal of sludge as special waste may significantly increase disposal cost Drying and disposing of the sludge as general refuse may reduce these costs How Can I Prevent Soil and Groundwater Contamination? Soil and groundwater contamination is a serious hazard to human health Therefore, steps must be taken to prevent discharge of car wash wastewater to soil and groundwater The steps below should be taken Discharge to sewer systems or to holding tanks when applicable and in compliance with state and local regulations Capture and recycle as much wastewater as possible using filters, oil-water separators, reclamation systems, and other appropriate technologies Hire a licensed special waste transporter to dispose of wet sludge and other nonrecyclable special wastes Comply with state and local solid and liquid waste disposal regulations Dry the sludge in containers and dispose of it as general refuse How Can I Make My Professional Car Wash System More Environmentally Friendly? As discussed above, the toxic materials associated with a professional car wash system include detergents, phosphates, chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid, and ABFs The amount of toxic materials in a professional car wash system can be reduced by taking the measures below Use biodegradable soaps and chemicals instead of solvent- based solutions Reduce the amount of detergent used in the system Using less detergent produces less suds and reduces the amount of discharge to the sewer system Water softeners and filtration can lower the amount of total suspended solids in water and reduce spotting on vehicles If there is less spotting on the vehicles, less detergent will be needed How Can I Make My Car Wash System More Water Efficient? Over the past 10 years, professional car washes have implemented and improved water conservation practices Professional car washes can become even more water efficient by taking the general measures below Detect and repair all leaks in the system Install lower flow nozzles and run at lower pressure; adjust flow in nozzles, sprays, and other lines to meet minimum quality requirements Maintain all water-using devices to original or improved specifications for the conservation of water, and replace worn equipment with water-saving models Replace brass or plastic nozzles, which erode more quickly, with stainless-steel or hard ceramic nozzles Check alignment of nozzles, and inspect nozzles for clogging on a regular basis Install positive shut-off valves on all hoses and valves and in extractor sinks Turn off all flows during shutdowns Use solenoid valves to stop the flow of water when production stops When washing towels or rags, use front-loading washing machines and reduce the amount of laundry by doing fewer but fuller loads Identify discharges that can be reused and implement reuse practices In addition, there are specific measures that can be taken for each type of car wash For a conveyor system, water can be greatly conserved by reducing conveyor time Also, nozzles should be timed to turn on as the vehicle enters the arch and shut off as it moves out of range For an in-bay automatic car wash, adjusting nozzle alignment, flow rates, and timing can conserve water How Do I Obtain More Information? For more information on professional car wash environmental requirements, please call the Office of Small Business at 1-888-EPA-1996 All calls are considered confidential, and the caller can remain anonymous You can also visit the Illinois EPA website at www.epa.state.il.us All fact sheets mentioned in this document are available through the Illinois EPA website http://www.epa.state.il.us/small-business/car-wash/ Eco-Friendly Car Washing: Is It Better to Wash Cars at Home or at the Car Wash? Commercial Car Washes Treat and Recycle Waste Water From Earth Talk See More About:eco-friendly car washinggreen livingwater conservationwater pollutionwaterless car washing Ads Magnetic Water Treatment Bore, River water problems, salt scale, corrosion Leading Aust Brand www.deltawater.com.au Scratch Shield Bucket Guard with adjustable feet Will fit any bucket from £6.99 www.cardazzle.co.uk Cooling Water Treatment Merus Rings green solution to treat entire cooling water systems www.merusonline.com Environmental Issues Ads Car Wash Detailing Car Wash Equipment Hand Car Wash Automatic Car Wash Car Wash Systems Ads Detailing Products USA Car Wax & Polish Manufacturing Distributors wanted Internationally www.instafinish.com/Distributors Waste Water Cost Treatment World-class stainless steel for process and rescource industries www.outokumpu.com Dear EarthTalk: What is the most environmentally friendly way I can wash my car: doing it myself or going to the local car wash? Jim, Denton, TX Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can around the house Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes as well as the harsh detergents being used for the washing itself Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water On the other hand, federal laws in both the U.S and Canada require commercial carwash facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before it is discharged back into the great outdoors And commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage Many also recycle and re-use the rinse water The International Carwash Association, an industry group representing commercial car wash companies, reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer According to one report, washing a car at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 45 gallons per car Think Green When Washing Your Car If you must wash your car at home, choose a biodegradable soap specifically formulated for automotive parts, such as Simple Green’s Car Wash or Gliptone’s Wash ‘n Glow Or you can make your own biodegradable car wash by mixing one cup of liquid dishwashing detergent and 3/4 cup of powdered laundry detergent (each should be chlorine- and phosphate-free and non-petroleum-based) with three gallons of water This concentrate can then be used sparingly with water over exterior car surfaces Even when using green-friendly cleaners, it is better to avoid the driveway and instead wash your car on your lawn or over dirt so that the toxic waste water can be absorbed and neutralized in soil instead of flowing directly into storm drains or open water bodies Also, try to sop up or disperse those sudsy puddles that remain after you’re done They contain toxic residues and can tempt thirsty animals Waterless Car Wash Products are Good for Small Jobs One way to avoid such problems altogether is to wash your car using any number of waterless formulas available, which are especially handy for spot cleaning and are applied via spray bottle and then wiped off with a cloth Freedom Waterless Car Wash is a leading product in this growing field A Better Car Wash Option for Fundraising One last caution: Kids and parents planning a fundraising car wash event should know that they might be violating clean water laws if run-off is not contained and disposed of properly Washington’s Puget Sound Carwash Association, for one, allows fund-raisers to sell tickets redeemable at local car washes, enabling the organizations to still make money while keeping dry and keeping local waterways clean GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/car_wash.htm Nonpoint Source Pollution Education: Car Washing When you wash your car in the driveway, remember - you're not just washing your car in the driveway All the soap, scum, and oily grit runs along the curb Then into a storm drain and directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams And that causes pollution which is unhealthy for everyone So how you avoid this whole mess? Easy! Wash your car on the grass or gravel instead of the street Or better yet, take it to a car wash where the water gets treated or recycled Clean water is important to all of us It's up to all of us to make it happen In recent years, sources of water pollution like industrial wastes from factories have been greatly reduced Now, more than 60 percent of water pollution comes from things like cars leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks All these sources add up to a big pollution problem But each of us can small things to help clean up our water too-and that adds up to a pollution solution! Why we need clean water? Having clean water is of primary importance for our health and economy Clean water provides recreation, commercial opportunities, fish habitat, drinking water, and adds beauty to our landscape All of us benefit from clean water-and all of us have a role in getting and keeping our lakes, rivers, streams, marine, and ground waters clean What's the problem with car washing? There's no problem with washing your car It's just how and where you it The average driveway car wash uses a total of 116 gallons of water! Most commercial car washes use 60 percent less water in the entire washing process than a simple home wash uses just to rinse off a car Most soap contains phosphates and other chemicals that harm fish and water quality The soap, together with the dirt and oil washed from your car, flows into nearby storm drains which run directly into lakes, rivers, or marine waters The phosphates from the soap can cause excess algae to grow Algae look bad, smell bad, and harm water quality As algae decays, it uses up oxygen in the water that fish and other wildlife need Clean Water Tips: How can you wash your car and help keep our waters clean? Use soap sparingly Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you're done, not in the street Or wash your care on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car Most car washes reuse wash water several times before sending it to the sewer system for treatment For More Information http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/carwash.htm Home Car Washing Wastes Water and Leads to Water Pollution Most people who wash their cars at home don't realize where the contaminated water goes or how much is wasted Home car washing releases contaminated water directly into the environment or into storm drains intended for rainwater This causes pollution in our rivers, lakes and streams Also, engineering studies show that a 5/8" hose running at 50 pounds per square inch uses 10 gallons of water per minute compared to washing your car at a self-serve car wash for only 11.1 gallons Consider the alternatives of professional car washing: Average flow rate wash and rinse: 3GPM (gallons per minute) Average flow rate per-soak foaming brush and tire & engine cleaning: 0.6 GPM Average time for washing and rinsing vehicle: 2.6 minutes Average time for pre-soak, foaming brush and tire & engine: 5.3 minutes Average water used for wash and rise: 7.9 gallons Average water used for others: 3.2 gallons We have learned our lessons about polluting the environment We disposed of trash by burning it in open areas until environmental concern decreased this form of pollution It's time to recognize that home car washing is another serious pollution but it can be eliminated simply by using professional car washes Professional Car Washes Use Water Safely and Efficiently The Clean Water Act requires professional car washes to pipe their dirty water to water treatment facilities or into state-approved drainage facilities designed to protect the environment Automatic and self-serve car washes also use water efficient equipment such as computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps, allowing them to clean cars thoroughly while conserving water 10 Tips to Save Water Let's not take our water supply for granted It is important to follow guidelines so we can have the water we need and want, when we need and want it The International Carwash Association offers 10 ways to save water and money at the same time Your professional car wash operator is happy to share this knowledge with you and remind you that one of the ways to save both water and money, as well as protect your car's finish, is to patron a professional car wash frequently Check all your faucets for drips By completely turning off faucets and reducing your amount of water used for tooth brushing, hand washing and shaving, you will help reduce your personal water consumption Install flow restrictors and other conservation devices on showers and faucets These water savers are available in most hardware, grocery and discount stores Use your automatic washing machine and dish washer only for full loads You will make the most of the water used In removing rust-causing salt from your car, use a professional car wash Automatic and self-serve car washing uses far less water than the home wash that may result in wasted water, needlessly running hoses and tipping buckets Take shorter showers Long, hot showers can waste up to ten gallons for each unused minute Place plastic bottles in your toilet tank Fill them with water to weigh them down, placing them away from operating mechanisms In the average home, this action can easily save ten or more gallons of water per day Check for leaks in your household pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings These can be found by thoroughly examining your pipes and plumbing systems It's less expensive to fix than to continue paying for wasted water Instead of hosing, use a sweeper or broom to clean the garage, driveway, floors or sidewalk Keep a bottle of drinking water in your refrigerator This is important to avoid wasteful running of tap water to cool it off for drinking Teach your children the facts of water usage Practicing the tips listed here will help us have enough water for future generations Environment Matters http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/envirom/carwash.htm Washing the car Cars that are washed in the street can pollute our rivers and harbors The soapy water that runs off the car into the gutters goes into the storm water system Storm water, unlike the water, which enters the sewers, does not undergo treatment before it is discharged into our waterways Any pollutants in storm water end up in our lakes, rivers, harbors and oceans Polluting waterways in this way is a breach of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and may result in a $750 fine for individuals or a $1500 fine for corporations The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) receives enquiries from car owners who are concerned that they may be fined for washing their cars on the street Car owners also want to know how to wash their cars in ways, which minimize the impact on the environment The EPA believes that a combination of education and 'best practice' is generally more appropriate than fines, so this leaflet contains information for members of the community about the impact that washing a car has on the environment, and about their legal obligations How big is the problem? The waste water that runs off a car when it is washed contains a range of substances that may pollute the environment These include soaps and detergents, mud, rubber and grease If these substances enter the storm water system, they will eventually find their way into our lakes, rivers, harbors and oceans - wherever the storm water discharges There are approximately 3.2 million vehicles registered in NSW If every vehicle was washed once a month with 40 litres of water (5 buckets), over 1500 million litres of polluted water could enter the storm water system every year Where to wash your car Try to wash your car on a grassy area to minimize the runoff However, if this grassy area is on a nature strip, make sure you are not causing any disruption or inconvenience to pedestrians, as this is an offence against regulations administered by local councils Wash your car in the driveway if it drains onto a lawn or garden area, but avoid using the driveway if the water runs into a street or drain Always ensure the area where you wash your car does not drain into the storm water system, including the drains in the street If you have no suitable area to wash your car, look for an alternative location - perhaps your friends or neighbors have a suitable area you can use Some service stations provide an area for car washing, where runoff water is treated to remove pollutants before it goes into the sewer When you wash your car Use a trigger hose - or even better, a bucket - to save water Use detergents and soaps sparingly Better still, just use plain water, a coarse sponge and a little elbow grease Dispose of waste water onto a garden or lawn Consider washing your car only once a month Commercial car washes Commercial car wash premises treat wastewater before disposing of it in the sewer But remember, a commercial car wash uses far more hot water and soap than hand washing There are also some newer commercial car washes which clean, recycle and reuse water in their 'do it yourself' car wash bays These systems use much less water than standard car wash premises and all wastewater is treated before disposal Check whether your car wash company recycles its water Car wash companies are listed in the Yellow Pages under motorcar & truck cleaning services Environmental Issues http://ci.fort-worth.tx.us/DEM/carwash.htm Washing your car at home not only uses more gallons of water than a commercial car wash, but it also can introduce soap, oil, and engine grime to the environment HOW? The dirty water and soap that come off your car at home usually flow down the driveway, into a curb inlet or gutter, and end up in a nearby creek or river Curb inlets are designed to drain rainwater from the streets to prevent flooding This water does not go to a water treatment facility to be cleaned By using a commercial car wash, the soap and dirty water enter a filter system, which removes grit and oil The water then flows through the sanitary sewer to a treatment facility where the water is cleansed Did You Know? Fort Worth's Environmental Management Department has found that the most common pollutant in our storm drains and neighborhood creeks is detergent What Are We Doing? We are telling people that pollutants like detergent, oil, and pesticides don't belong in storm drains The City of Fort Worth has placed plaques similar on many curb inlets throughout the city If your group would like to participate in a fish plaque project, call 871-5451 What Can You Do? Take your car to a commercial car wash The chemicals are filtered and sent to a water treatment facility for cleaning If you must wash your car at home: try using just water and a rag use only minimal amounts of soap - a little goes a long way use a spray release nozzle for your hose to reduce water use and runoff into the street wash your car on the lawn - your yard acts as a sponge and prevents soapy water from flowing down the curb Try using water and a rag Use only minimal amounts of soap - a little goes a long way Use a spray release nozzle for your hose to reduce water use and run off into the street Wash your car on the lawn - your yard acts as a sponge and prevents soapy water from flowing down the curb Professional Carwashes Are The Environment's Best Friends By taking your vehicle to one of the many professional carwash facilities you are helping to preserve one of our country's most valued assets - the environment Did you know that professional carwashes only use eight to 45 gallons of water per car depending on the type of carwash? Washing your car at home in the driveway, for only 10 minutes, wastes 80 to 140 gallons of water To top that off, the untreated waste water and soaps, oils, and sludge from a home carwash seep directly into the environment via storm sewers, which are not intended for this type of use The dirty water at a professional carwash is either treated and reused, piped to water treatment facilities or runs into municipal-approved drainage facilities & endash; much better solutions for the environment Unfortunately, not enough motorists are aware of these facts High-pressure nozzles and pumps at professional carwashes are designed to get the most use of water flow and conserve water Full-service carwashes use 15-32 gallons of water per cycle Nearly 40 percent of the motoring public washes at home This is a tragic reflection on how many of us treat the environment But it doesn't have to be.If you haven't tried a professional carwash or you haven't been to one lately, there is no time like the present to get your vehicle thoroughly cleaned and conditioned while protecting the environment we all cherish.Another Danger to the Environment - Acid Rain Exterior-only carwashes use 15-28 gallons of water per cycle Did you know that another danger to the environment & endash; acid rain & endash; is also a danger to your vehicle's finish? You don't have to look any further than your car's finish to see the effects of acid rain Acid rain damage to automobile finishes is widespread and manifests itself in dull-looking spots that are etched into you car's finish As a result, the professional carwash industry urges motorists to wash their cars after a rainfall in order to remove acid-containing rainwater produced by emissions from fossilfuel burning engines or plants that react with your car's paint to form sulfuric and nitric acids.A professional carwash is able to remove this harmful acidity Self-serve (coin op) carwashes use 8-12 gallons of water per cycle The International Carwash Association (ICA), headquartered in Chicago, IL, recommends frequent washing (every 10 days) to help eliminate the problems of acid rain and keep your vehicle looking new The average passenger car on the road today is nearly eight years old, which means car owners are keeping their cars longer and taking better care of them Frequent professional car washing should be an important part of that care Professional carwashes help preservethe environment while takingexcellent care of the investmentyou've made in your automobile High-pressure nozzles and pumps at professional carwashes are designed to get the most use out of water flow and conserve water Full-service carwashes use 15-32 gallons of water per cycle Exterior-only carwashes use 15-28 gallons of water per cycle Inbay automatic/rollover carwashes use 24-45 gallons of water per cycle Self-serve (coin op) carwashes use 8-12 gallons of water per cycle In 60 seconds, a typical five-eighths inch garden hose running at a typical household pressure of 50 psi (pressure per square inch) uses 14 gallons of water Many carwashes recycle water or adjust spray nozzles to even further reduce overall water use In 60 seconds, a typical five-eighths inche garden hose running at a typical household pressure of 50 psi (pressure per square inch) uses 14 gallons of water Many carwashes recycle water or adjust spray nozzles to even further reduce overall water use http://www.imagesautospa.com/Environmental.html [...]... from flowing down the curb Professional Carwashes Are The Environment's Best Friends By taking your vehicle to one of the many professional carwash facilities you are helping to preserve one of our country's most valued assets - the environment Did you know that professional carwashes only use eight to 45 gallons of water per car depending on the type of carwash? Washing your car at home in the driveway,... important part of that care Professional carwashes help preservethe environment while takingexcellent care of the investmentyou've made in your automobile High-pressure nozzles and pumps at professional carwashes are designed to get the most use out of water flow and conserve water Full-service carwashes use 15-32 gallons of water per cycle Exterior-only carwashes use 15-28 gallons of water per cycle Inbay... marine, and ground waters clean What's the problem with car washing? There's no problem with washing your car It's just how and where you do it The average driveway car wash uses a total of 116 gallons of water! Most commercial car washes use 60 percent less water in the entire washing process than a simple home wash uses just to rinse off a car Most soap contains phosphates and other chemicals that... aware of these facts High-pressure nozzles and pumps at professional carwashes are designed to get the most use of water flow and conserve water Full-service carwashes use 15-32 gallons of water per cycle Nearly 40 percent of the motoring public washes at home This is a tragic reflection on how many of us treat the environment But it doesn't have to be.If you haven't tried a professional carwash or... car washes Commercial car wash premises treat wastewater before disposing of it in the sewer But remember, a commercial car wash uses far more hot water and soap than hand washing There are also some newer commercial car washes which clean, recycle and reuse water in their 'do it yourself' car wash bays These systems use much less water than standard car wash premises and all wastewater is treated... your car wash company recycles its water Car wash companies are listed in the Yellow Pages under motorcar & truck cleaning services Environmental Issues http://ci.fort-worth.tx.us/DEM/carwash.htm Washing your car at home not only uses more gallons of water than a commercial car wash, but it also can introduce soap, oil, and engine grime to the environment HOW? The dirty water and soap that come off... International Carwash Association (ICA), headquartered in Chicago, IL, recommends frequent washing (every 10 days) to help eliminate the problems of acid rain and keep your vehicle looking new The average passenger car on the road today is nearly eight years old, which means car owners are keeping their cars longer and taking better care of them Frequent professional car washing should be an important part of. .. International Carwash Association offers 10 ways to save water and money at the same time Your professional car wash operator is happy to share this knowledge with you and remind you that one of the ways to save both water and money, as well as protect your car' s finish, is to patron a professional car wash frequently Check all your faucets for drips By completely turning off faucets and reducing your amount of. .. hose nozzle with a trigger to save water Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you're done, not in the street Or wash your care on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car Most car washes reuse wash water several times before sending it to the sewer... As a result, the professional carwash industry urges motorists to wash their cars after a rainfall in order to remove acid-containing rainwater produced by emissions from fossilfuel burning engines or plants that react with your car' s paint to form sulfuric and nitric acids.A professional carwash is able to remove this harmful acidity Self-serve (coin op) carwashes use 8-12 gallons of water per cycle