Help with water containment

[ngroat7007]

Hey guys allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Nick and I am starting a Bikini Car wash in Las Vegas. It is going to be a hand wash and I need help witha cost effective way of water containment. I was planning on a simple trench system around the perimeter of the parking lot which will go to a holding tank.

Would you have any other/better suggestions for me?

 

[ken-pro]

Portable wash mats - Designed for mobile wash companies.

http://www.kyotocsi.com/products/Waste

 

[mac]

Please send pictures when you get it opened.

 

[robtl]

please send pictures when you get it opened.

close ups!

 

[Buzzie8]

I'm going to start a topless car wash next to yours!
JK

 

[ngroat7007]

lol well I will be sure to send you guys pictures!

As far as the portable mats I looked into them but I would need a ton of them and they are pretty expensive at 800+ a piece. As long as the water does not overflow into the road or neighboring lots im all set so I dont mind it getting on the pavement.

 

[ngroat7007]

Oh and good luck! I've already got topless bays lol

 

[pitzerwm]

One issue that you need to address is that your "untreated water" can't go into the storm sewer or street. You might be smarted to buy a defunct self serve and use the bays where the drainage isn't an issue. You are going to have enough problems without that one.

 

[ngroat7007]

One issue that you need to address is that your "untreated water" can't go into the storm sewer or street. You might be smarted to buy a defunct self serve and use the bays where the drainage isn't an issue. You are going to have enough problems without that one.

That is the issue I am trying to resolve here. unfortunately the buing a solf serve wont work out. There are few places around my desired location that are available as it is. I am either starting from scratch at a vacant lot in a worse location or I need to make the location I am currently looking at work out.

So far the solution I had (until I could afford a better one) is to create a trench around the property lay a pipe inside and run it to the holding tank that is currently on site.

In reality all I need to do to be legal is to put a rubber stopper or sandbags around the property so no water can get out and let the Nevada Sun take care of the rest. However I would like a better solution.

 

[ngroat7007]

Hand Wash Issues

So I am planning on starting a Bikni (and topless) hand wash in Las Vegas near the strip. I have been starting up and operating my own businesses for years and I am really set on this one.

The issue here is that I do not have much experience int his field (Although I am not worried as I am determined to learn and knew nothing about my other businesses when I started). Anyway what are some issues that you see coming up for me?

I found that my startup expenses as well as my operating expenses are pretty low and I wont need much equipment.

So far all I forsee as the big issue is water containment which I can take care of.

I know it wont be this easy so what am I overlooking? I am looking for industry related issues specifically. Management and business operations are not an issue.

Where I am at right now:
Inexperienced "models" washing vehicles (Quality of wash is a major factor to me but honestly I dont think it will matter all that much).
Hand washes parking lot style.
Topless washes in bay
Large lot with water water and electricity on site.
EXTREMELY busy street with free marketing and I can easily exploit clients from the Vegas strip.

Thanks guys!

 

[soapy]

You also posted about water containment. In Clark County you will have to a have a water recycling system in place for any kind of car wash. That cost alone will be ten of thousands of dollars for a system that will meet requirements.

 

[ngroat7007]

You also posted about water containment. In Clark County you will have to a have a water recycling system in place for any kind of car wash. That cost alone will be ten of thousands of dollars for a system that will meet requirements.

Where did you find that information? Everyone I spoke to said jut to have it contained and that it was not a requirement.

 

[MikeV]

Water containment is not the only issue. What do you do with the water once the containment vessel is full and its still early in the day?
Bikini washes have been done many times before and none that I know of are still around.
People in Vegas are there to gamble and see shows...not to wash their cars.
Vegas is also trying to become family friendly...how family friendly is a topless or bikini car wash?
Just my 2cents.

 

[Washmee]

I thought this forum was for discussing professional car washing. A "Bikini Wash" does not fall into that category IMHO. Its a cute gimmick that exploits women and does nothing to help the image of professional car washes.

 

[buda]

In Nevada not only are there strict laws regarding the containment and disposal of the water so that it does not go on the ground or into the storm sewers, there is what you might call "water rationing."

I heard a speaker from the Nevada Water Authority and they have some strict laws regarding the amount of water they obtain for other than natural sources and it has to do with how they ration the water they have, etc.

As well, this business of bikini washes has been tried before in the "City of Sin" and failed.

Certainly it is not something that I believe the International Carwash Association nor any of the regional car wash associations would be interested in supporting or promoting.

Kind of like allowing a massage parlor or porno shop to join the local Chamber of Commerce.

Regards

 

[robert roman]

Quite frankly, I like the idea of a bikini carwash but not topless.

Actually, bikini carwash is a term that is sometimes used to describe a local charity carwash – kids in shorts, tennis shoes and t-shirts hand-washing cars and supervised by parents.

I’ve supervised quite a few charity carwashes as my kid was growing up and that is how we marketed the venture; bikini wash.

As a business model, there may be a niche to prospect in Vegas.

However, I believe you would stand a better chance if you fashioned the wash as a legitimate business.

For example, dress workers in “G-rated” Hooter style uniforms; meaning no cleavage or buttocks exposed and tennis shoes instead of high heels.

Not as sexy as an actual bikini or “less” but it would certainly be more palatable from the general public’s perspective.

Also, instead of trying to hand-wash with water and having to contain and dispose of waste water, you may want to consider hand-washing with one of the water-less carwash products.

This may be an attractive alternative to your proposal considering the conservation measures that are in place in the region.

Opportunity is often determined by examining what is possible from what is available.

In other words, start with the overall market and removing the pieces that are tapped to identify the relevant portions of it.

Maybe you will find an opportunity were others only see disruption.

Hope this helps.

 

[bigdadioofthepatio]

maybe this is why i am tired of the shows being in vegas. Vegas is not family friendly, and quite trying to be. On top of that now i will be able to watch women being exploited while getting my car wash. How about if we strive for clean, dry cars, resonable price and good service as our drawl factor. Not a bouncing par of jugs

 

[pitzerwm]

Exploiting women, give me a break, its been a long time since slavery and unequal pay etc. Are the women in the Vegas shows being exploited? They probably make more money than we do. We are hardly talking the "sex trade" here. Go to any beach, and figure out who is exploiting whom.

Personally, I think the idea won't succeed and I wouldn't use it, if it was real successful, but no one is being exploited.

 

[Kevin Reilly]

Hey guys allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Nick and I am starting a Bikini Car wash in Las Vegas. It is going to be a hand wash and I need help witha cost effective way of water containment. I was planning on a simple trench system around the perimeter of the parking lot which will go to a holding tank.

Would you have any other/better suggestions for me?

You haven't said anything about talking to the city regarding permitting & use permits. From the sound of your question you haven't and that's where you will find the answers to your question.

I would doubt very much that this could happen without building what any car wash operator would be required to do and it is not cheap. Then you can wash vehicles anyway that you choose as long as it is in line with the city's requirements.

 

[bigdadioofthepatio]

Pitzerwm you are probably right about the exploited part, for in fact their is no one making them take that job, and depending on the pay scale they should make more in tips then i do, and i would never not hire someone because of how good they look. but the drawl needs to be about the cars, the quility and the job that is performed. not about the women