New tunnel wash on well and septic system

[Douglas54]

You can definitely run a tunnel with zero sewer/septic discharge (although you would need minimal of one or the other for restrooms). The key is to have an effective and efficient reclaim system. The small amount of reject can be used to water the grass.

any chance you can elaborate on your experience with this? Lots of naysayers thus far unwilling to provide any helpful information.

 

[MEP001]

I have no personal experience, but there are several washes in my area running on well and septic. Have you determined anything about the water quality and the gallons per day you can pull from a well at the site?

 

[Douglas54]

Not yet. Getting close to that step

 

[Waxman]

I tried to run a free-standing detail shop for years without city sewer tie-ins. What a disaster! The reclaim system was undependable, hard to clean, and super-smelly! Water can go septic very fast! Customers complained constantly about the smell.\

You will have similar problems, even with a top-notch reclaim system. The cost and maintenance and cost to operate a reclaim will cut into profits too deeply. A well would require underground cisterns to contain enough water to meet the demand of a busy tunnel.

Yes, it may be possible. But not everything is possible should be done. The most important resource for your wash is the water. The sewer is inextricably linked. I know; I was shut down for a month in 2019 with a sewer problem. Could your project sustain such a financial hit ( ZERO REVENUE ) and survive???

I think you need to do more homework on your own. The fact that you are asking about what kind of problems there are with reclaim systems indicates to me that you have done enough due diligence. As a new operator, you want things to go smoothly with your water and sewer supply for a good ten years before any 'issues' crop up ( and they can). With a well and reclaim, there will be issues from the start of the project until the day you leave it. Harsh but true. In all of the systems that must be present in a car wash business, water and sewer is one of the ones that you want to be: " set it and forget it" as much as is possible. City water and sewer is the best way to go; then this part of the business is on autopilot, with a few occasional bumps along the way. The car wash business is hard enough without starting off seriously handicapped, which is how I see it. Others may disagree, but have they been there / done that?

Find a better site.

 

[Waxman]

We are working with an experienced car wash consultant on this project. Also, we plan to use a water reclaim system rather than "discharging" to a septic field. Looking for more specifics other than discouraging comments. Specifically, what challenges?

ZERO Discharge???? How?

 

[Bhoopendra Prakash]

Douglas54...Any update? I am an engineer and want to design a conveyor wash also. No sewer but City water is available.

 

[water guy]

Just curious what State are you trying to do this?

 

[jfmoran]

Can it be done? Yes, but the system would need to be sized right and the storage sized right. While you lose some water to evaporation and vehicle carry off, you still need to be able to store ALL water used in the wash on site if you have a zero discharge system.

 

[Waxman]

This sounds like such a pain in the butt. With all the other challenges of owning and operating an automated carwash why would you want to add this on to your plate?

 

[SDaWG11]

Is there an update here? I’m very curious to know the outcome, notably how smelly was your operation? Even our conventional underbody and prep reclaim system stinks, can’t imagine what a complete no discharge system would smell like.