| Georgia's Coalition of Car Washes is actively being part of the solution... |
Letter to the Editor
In Defense of Car Washes
The car wash industry has recently received much publicity based on the common perception that car washes use,
and waste, a tremendous amount of water. The facts, however, paint an entirely different picture.
The car wash industry is relatively small compared to other service-oriented industries such as restaurants,
hotels, etc. Car washing is an infrequent transaction. Using the number of registered vehicles in the state and
the latest industry data, there are approximately 18 million car wash transactions per year. Compare this to
more than 1+ billion annual restaurant transactions. Based on conservative industry data of 5-10 gallons per
meal, we estimate the restaurant industry uses approximately 10 times as much water.
Water is the lifeblood of our industry. Water costs money. Therefore, car wash owners have an incentive to
reduce the amount of water used in the wash process. Professional car washes have invested tens of thousands of
dollars per facility to reclaim and recycle as much water as possible. As a result, it is not uncommon for some
types of car washes to become 85%-90% efficient in their use of water. In some cases the amount of fresh
water used to wash a car is the equivalent of a 3-minute shower at home.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 6 billion gallons of water per day is drawn for use within the
state. Of that, public use is just 20% of the total or 1.2 billion gallons. We estimate the car wash industry uses
approximately 1.8 million gallons or just 0.14% of the water consumed for public use. Compare this to the City of
Atlanta's estimate that 15 million gallons per day are lost and not metered. This is more than 8 times the amount
of water our industry uses in the entire state.
Restricting or eliminating car washing will not result in any measurable water savings. It will cause significant
economic damage to the small business owners who comprise the bulk of car wash operators and the thousands of
workers who depend on our industry.
There are practical reasons to wash a vehicle on a consistent basis. Dirty cars can create unsafe driving
conditions. Second to one's home, vehicles represent many consumers’ largest asset. The build-up of grime, road
tar, tree sap, and bird droppings can cause significant damage to clear coat and paint finishes and diminish the
value of a vehicle. Consumers need to protect their asset by keeping it clean.
Our industry has been proactive in working with the Georgia EPD and local municipalities to approve our
industry's initiative to create permanent, long-term gains through water conservation. We have decided to
implement the Car Wash Certification Program among our membership. This program is tailored to our industry
but is applicable to many other industries and is a way for the private sector to adopt best practices
management procedures to promote conservation.
The Car Wash Certification Program will be self-administered with annual inspections provided by a licensed
professional (plumber or engineer). Car washes will adhere to a set of guidelines for water conservation and
recycling based upon the type of car wash facility. For example, conveyor type car washes must recycle at least
50% of their water to meet certification requirements. The requirements are stringent and must be met
annually. We also have penalties to promote compliance. Once the program is underway, car wash facilities can
only become certified when drought restrictions are not in place. Once restrictions are in effect, non-certified
washes must begin to reduce hours of operation.
The certification program is applicable to many other industries and is capable of providing permanent yield in
water conservation. The city of San Antonio is a remarkable success story in what can be achieved through
concerted conservation efforts. The city adopted a certification program 10 years ago, and per capita water
consumption has declined by approximately 40%.
Our industry has been, and continues to be, proactive in water conservation. We use very little water despite
common perceptions, but we acknowledge that we can do even more. The Car Wash Certification Program is an
innovative idea that results in permanent water conservation. It is time to focus on real solutions to our
problems. Our message is simple. There are many things we can do as individuals and businesses to lower per
capita water consumption. The car wash industry is taking the lead.
Gary Dennis
President
Georgia Chapter
Southeastern Car Wash Association
In Defense of Car Washes
The car wash industry has recently received much publicity based on the common perception that car washes use,
and waste, a tremendous amount of water. The facts, however, paint an entirely different picture.
The car wash industry is relatively small compared to other service-oriented industries such as restaurants,
hotels, etc. Car washing is an infrequent transaction. Using the number of registered vehicles in the state and
the latest industry data, there are approximately 18 million car wash transactions per year. Compare this to
more than 1+ billion annual restaurant transactions. Based on conservative industry data of 5-10 gallons per
meal, we estimate the restaurant industry uses approximately 10 times as much water.
Water is the lifeblood of our industry. Water costs money. Therefore, car wash owners have an incentive to
reduce the amount of water used in the wash process. Professional car washes have invested tens of thousands of
dollars per facility to reclaim and recycle as much water as possible. As a result, it is not uncommon for some
types of car washes to become 85%-90% efficient in their use of water. In some cases the amount of fresh
water used to wash a car is the equivalent of a 3-minute shower at home.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 6 billion gallons of water per day is drawn for use within the
state. Of that, public use is just 20% of the total or 1.2 billion gallons. We estimate the car wash industry uses
approximately 1.8 million gallons or just 0.14% of the water consumed for public use. Compare this to the City of
Atlanta's estimate that 15 million gallons per day are lost and not metered. This is more than 8 times the amount
of water our industry uses in the entire state.
Restricting or eliminating car washing will not result in any measurable water savings. It will cause significant
economic damage to the small business owners who comprise the bulk of car wash operators and the thousands of
workers who depend on our industry.
There are practical reasons to wash a vehicle on a consistent basis. Dirty cars can create unsafe driving
conditions. Second to one's home, vehicles represent many consumers’ largest asset. The build-up of grime, road
tar, tree sap, and bird droppings can cause significant damage to clear coat and paint finishes and diminish the
value of a vehicle. Consumers need to protect their asset by keeping it clean.
Our industry has been proactive in working with the Georgia EPD and local municipalities to approve our
industry's initiative to create permanent, long-term gains through water conservation. We have decided to
implement the Car Wash Certification Program among our membership. This program is tailored to our industry
but is applicable to many other industries and is a way for the private sector to adopt best practices
management procedures to promote conservation.
The Car Wash Certification Program will be self-administered with annual inspections provided by a licensed
professional (plumber or engineer). Car washes will adhere to a set of guidelines for water conservation and
recycling based upon the type of car wash facility. For example, conveyor type car washes must recycle at least
50% of their water to meet certification requirements. The requirements are stringent and must be met
annually. We also have penalties to promote compliance. Once the program is underway, car wash facilities can
only become certified when drought restrictions are not in place. Once restrictions are in effect, non-certified
washes must begin to reduce hours of operation.
The certification program is applicable to many other industries and is capable of providing permanent yield in
water conservation. The city of San Antonio is a remarkable success story in what can be achieved through
concerted conservation efforts. The city adopted a certification program 10 years ago, and per capita water
consumption has declined by approximately 40%.
Our industry has been, and continues to be, proactive in water conservation. We use very little water despite
common perceptions, but we acknowledge that we can do even more. The Car Wash Certification Program is an
innovative idea that results in permanent water conservation. It is time to focus on real solutions to our
problems. Our message is simple. There are many things we can do as individuals and businesses to lower per
capita water consumption. The car wash industry is taking the lead.
Gary Dennis
President
Georgia Chapter
Southeastern Car Wash Association
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