Utility bills are on the rise for automatic carwashes, according to the to Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine's annual Automatic Carwash Survey and reports from carwash operators.
Annual water bills jumped from $6,900 in 1999 to $7,500 in 2000 and annual sewer bills jumped from $5,300 to $7,600, according to the survey.
The outlook for 2001 and 2002 is not much better. Carwash operator Larry Edwards, owner of East Ridge Car Wash in St. Joseph, MO, said his water bills in 2001 increased by 33 percent as the city tries to pay for a new $70 million treatment plant.
And in at least one city — Baltimore — sewer rates could triple to pay for the cost of extensive sewer-line repairs.
Automatic carwashes also paid more for some car-care products in 2000 compared with 1999. According to the survey, automatic carwashes spent $37,700 in 2000 on soaps, cleaners and waxes, vs. $28,900 spent in the previous year.
The magazine is in the process of collecting data for the 2002 Automatic Carwash Survey, which reports revenues and expenses earned and incurred in 2001.
For the first time, automatic carwash operators in the United States can participate in the annual in-depth study by filling out this questionnaire online. Complete and accurate responses assist in developing a useful profile of the automatic carwash industry. Results of this study will be published in the July 2002 issue of Professional Carwashing and Detailing magazine.
The Professional Car Care B2B Trade Group consists of Carwash Online, Professional Carwashing e-News and Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine. It is a division of National Trade Publications, Inc., of Latham, NY, which also owns and operates the Water Technology B2B Trade Group, the Boating Industry International B2B Trade Group and the CM B2B Trade Group.
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Simply use the links below to direct your question toward the appropriate expert(s), and PC&D will send it on to a member of its Advisory Board or an expert in the subject's field.
PC&D's Editor in Chief, Kate Carr, welcomes ideas, comments and suggestions for making the magazine the best it can be for its readers. If you're interested in submitting an article or want to suggest a topic, please contact Kate at (518) 779 - 1667, kcarr@carwash.com.
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