Water reclaim: Is your car wash letting profits slip down the drain?

Why should I care about water reclaim?

Simple answer: Water costs money.

Every vehicle that enters your wash consumes water; in most municipalities you're paying twice—once for incoming water and again for sewer discharge. Those costs are increasing across Canada and no one expects them to decrease in the future. 

Simultaneously, municipalities are becoming more focused on water conservation and wastewater quality. Many regions are introducing stricter environmental requirements and are actively encouraging businesses to reduce water consumption.

Water reclaim allows a car wash to reuse a portion of the water used, instead of using it once and sending it directly down the drain.  This portion varies by process and technology.

From my perspective, reclaim is no longer just an environmental discussion. It's a business discussion. Every litre of water you can safely reuse is a litre you don't have to buy again.

What exactly is water reclaim?

Many people hear the term "water reclaim" and assume it's complicated.

The reality is straightforward.

Water used during the wash process is collected and directed into a series of tanks and separators. This is now unusable, dirty water. During treatment, contaminants such as dirt, sand, oils, grease, organic material and detergent residues are removed or broken down.

The treated water is then stored and reused for appropriate wash functions.

Not every part of the wash requires drinking-water quality, such as undercarriage wash, prep guns and high-pressure wash arches. Other cleaning functions often operate effectively using properly treated reclaim water.

Fresh water and reverse osmosis water continue to be used where necessary, particularly for final rinse and spot-free applications.

The goal is not to replace all fresh water. The goal is to dramatically reduce the amount of fresh water your wash consumes each day.

How much water and money can I actually save?

This is where many owners become interested.

The answer depends on the wash design, traffic volume, local operating conditions and the reclaim technology being used. However, most modern reclaim systems can reduce freshwater consumption by 30% to 90%.

For a busy tunnel wash processing hundreds of vehicles per day, that can represent millions of litres of water saved every year.

Those savings become even more significant when you consider that you're often reducing both water consumption and sewer discharge costs at the same time.

Many owners initially focus on the cost of purchasing a reclaim system. I encourage them to also look at the cost of not having one. Every year without reclaim means additional water purchases, additional sewer charges and missed opportunities to reduce operating expenses.  Think profit.

As utility rates continue to rise, the value of reclaimed water rises with them.

Will reclaim water affect wash quality?

This is probably the most common concern I hear.

No owner wants to save money on water if it means compromising wash quality or customer satisfaction.

The good news is that a properly designed reclaim system will not negatively affect wash performance.

The key is understanding where reclaim water should be used and where fresh water should still be used. Modern systems are designed around that principle.

Customers expect clean vehicles and spot-free finishes. That's why fresh water and reverse osmosis water remain important components of the wash process. Reclaim water is used where it makes operational and economic sense.

The design and efficiency of the reclaim system itself matters greatly. The best systems consistently produce clean, clear, odour-free water that operators can depend on every day.

When designed correctly, most customers will never know reclaim water is being used. What they will notice is a clean vehicle and a professional operation.   

Is water reclaim a good investment?

In my opinion, this is the question that ties everything together.

Evaluate a reclaim system like any other business investment. Owners should consider capital and operating costs, maintenance requirements, expected water savings, regulatory benefits and long-term value.

For many car washes, reclaim delivers returns in three important areas:

First, it reduces water and sewer costs.

Second, it helps meet environmental and municipal requirements.  For new sites, it provides a great news story to municipal planning and permitting departments.  Think faster approvals.

Third, it helps future-proof the business against rising utility costs, changing regulations and potential water restrictions.

The exact payback period varies, but the long-term benefits often extend far beyond simple utility savings.

What lies ahead for water reclaim? 

The car wash industry has always adapted to changing conditions. Today's challenge is managing water more efficiently while maintaining excellent wash quality and profitability.

I believe the conversation around water reclaim is changing.

The question is no longer, "Should I look at reclaim?"

The better question is, "How much water and money am I losing by not reclaiming?"

For many Canadian car wash owners, the answer may be larger than they think.