Water Quality @ SCXCR

Did you know that under a new California law, that a car wash MUST recycle at least 60% of their water?

It's true, any new car wash built since Jan 1, 2014, bay or conveyor drive, MUST use at least 60% recycled water in their operation.  It is sugggested that to-date, only 25% of car washes in CA meet this requirement.  Does yours?

SCXCW understands this, and is far ahead of these minimal expectations.

We recycle in excess of 80% of our water, but how do we do that?

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A car wash recycling system works by collecting and filtering water used during the car wash process, so it can be reused instead of being wasted. The system typically consists of several components, including:

1. Collection pit: The collection pit collects all the water used during the car wash process, including any cleaning chemicals and contaminants.

2. Sedimentation tank: The sedimentation tank allows any heavy particles and debris to settle to the bottom of the tank, leaving the cleaner water on top.

3. Oil and grease separator: This component separates any oil or grease that may have entered the water during the car wash process.

4. Filtration system: The filtration system removes any remaining dirt, debris, and chemicals from the water, making it safe for reuse.

5. Ozone generator: The ozone generator produces ozone gas, which is then injected into the water. The ozone reacts with any organic compounds and contaminants in the water, breaking them down and oxidizing them.

6. Contact tank: The contact tank allows the ozone to fully react with the water and contaminants, ensuring that the water is thoroughly treated.  This runs 24/7, constantly treating water in the last of many settling and treatment tanks under our property, to ensure that this final step in the process, produces clean water to start to scrub your car with.

7. Storage tank: Once the water has been filtered and treated with ozone, it is stored in a tank until it is needed again for the next car wash.

8. Recirculation system: The recirculation system pumps the clean, recycled water back into the car wash system to be used again.
    

By using a car wash recycling system, car wash businesses can reduce their water consumption and lower their environmental impact while also saving on water bills.

It should be noted, that the farther down the tunnel you go, the cleaner the source water is.  The final surface treatments (clear coat weather guard, ceramic treatment, etc) and of course the FINAL rinse, are using only FRESH city water, that is being carbon filtered, and reverse osmosis treated, to provide a final product of only 4-6 TDS.  A value higher than 40 will start leaving those scaly deposits, that eventually can eat away at your finish, and require very high Ph chemicals to dissolve and remove, or abrasive products that will also remove material from your finish as well, decreasing it's lifespan.

 

Here is what typical day looks like for the incoming, and output (to finishing products and final rinse) water quality at SCXCR:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also to be clear, we do not soften our water.  It feels good at home, but a water softenter is trading dissolved solids in your city water, for salt.  Ever wonder where those bags of salt go to?   So no..bad idea.  Soft water will spot your finish on a hot day pretty fast as well.

 

What are TDS?  Basically it is a measure of how much dissolved minerals are in the water, you know, the stuff that turns your shower head a crusty white.  Magnesium and calcium are a couple of the most common.  Here are images of light spotting, and what happens if you park next to a sprinkler long term. Left long term, these go from a minor annnoyance, to severe damage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High TDS values will leave water spots on the car.  Hard white flaky ones.  If you see some spots here, it's likely just traces of final rinse products that mirrors/gaps in the car body made hard to blow off the car.  They post NO danger to your finish, and wipe cleanly off.  Read this article to learn more about TDS and commercial RO systems



More Info!
The Truth About Scratches
https://www.carwash.com/truth-origins-scratches-swirls/