Car wash on a septic system?

[Roz]

Occasionally a car wash becomes available for purchase that is on well water and uses a septic system.

My washes are all on town water and sewer. Wondering if there are unique issues to be aware of for car washes that are on septic and well? Anyone have firsthand experience to share on such a wash? Thank you.

 

[traveler17]

Occasionally a car wash becomes available for purchase that is on well water and uses a septic system.

My washes are all on town water and sewer. Wondering if there are unique issues to be aware of for car washes that are on septic and well? Anyone have firsthand experience to share on such a wash? Thank you.

I know 2 different owners that have multiple washes and each guy has a wash running well water. Neither has said they’ve had any issue.

 

[Nuphoenix]

I have city water and sort of a septic system. The original design for the wash I bought involved three separation tanks and then a filter system. Currently I am rebuilding the filter. My waste water from the separation tanks will eventually flow on to a bed of gravel with coconut fiber filters on top of the gravel and in the bottom of my pit will be perforated pipe that will then collect the filtered water and bring it up and out into a drainage ditch. My runoff is tested twice a year with the DEP. Without the filter system the wash fails for excessive sediment, my new design should alleviate that problem
I don't see a problem with well water as long as the water table maintains well. True septic systems require good percolation in the soil which I do not have that's why I have to discharge to a drainage ditch.