WATER CONSERVATION IS OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY

Professional car washes are vitally interested in conserving water not only because it makes good business sense but because conservation will help us all.
Let's face it, reducing the number of gallons used to wash cars makes us more efficient and saves us money. Not many people realize that professional car washes save water compared to other alternatives. Engineering studies show that a 5/8" hose running at 50 PSI (pounds per square inch) uses 14 gallons of water per minute. As many as 140 gallons of water can be used in a 10 minute home car wash, most of it washed down the street. A professional car wash can use from 8 to 45 gallons per car depending on the equipment used.
Our industry has already implemented water savings measures such as reclaiming water, limited time of rinse cycles, increasing conveyor speeds, reducing nozzle sizes, eliminating some flood arch jets, replacing worn jets, and making sure solenoids & valves that control water go on and off at precisely the right moment.
It is through these industry efforts that we can all enjoy protecting our automobile investment while conserving water at the same time.

HOW OUR WATER DRIPS AWAY

COMMON CONSUMPTIONS:

•  Dripping Faucet, 25 to 30 gallons a day

• Average toilet flush, 5-7 gallons

• Ten-minute shower, 25-50 gallons. Average bath, 36 gallons

• Hand washing dishes with the water running, 30 gallons

• An automatic dishwasher uses 10 gallons

• A Hose uses 5-10 gallons a minute

• Washing a car with a running hose, 180 gallons

• Washing machine at top water level, 60 gallons

Source: American Water Works Association; San Francisco

FACTS ABOUT WATER USAGE/CONSUMPTION
Prepared by the California Carwash Association

• FACT 1: As many as 140 gallons of water can be used in a 10 minute home car wash, most of it washed down the driveway or down the storm drain. A professional car wash can use from 8-45 gallons per car (depending upon the equipment used).
  

• FACT 2: Water consumed in commercial car washes:
  A. Exterior only conveyor 15-28 Gal. Per Car
  B. Full-Service conveyor 15-28 Gal. Per Car
  C. In bay roll over 24-45 Gal. Per Car
  D. Home car washing 80-140 Gal. Per Car
  California Carwash association 1990
  

• FACT 3: In 60 seconds a 5/8" hose running at 50 PSI uses 14 gallons of water.
  Tribune-Herald, May 28, 1988
  

• FACT 4: Home car washing releases contaminated water directly into the environment (soap, oils, sludge, etc.) Soiled water at a professional car wash is piped to water treatment facilities or runs into state approved facilities.
  Tribune-Herald, May 28, 1988
  

• FACT 5: 39 of all car owners wash their own cars at home.
  Tribune-Herald, May 28, 1988
  

• FACT 6: High pressure nozzles and pumps at automatic car washes are designed to get the most use out of water flow and conserve water immensely.
  Tribune-Herald, May 28, 1988
  

• FACT 7: The use of high pressure spray rather than volume of water has become the industry standard. With powerful pumps and specialized spray nozzles, commercial car wash systems make the most of each gallon of water. Many operations recycle water or adjust the spray nozzles to further reduce overall water usage.
  Minnesota Carwash Association 1989