For many washes, a water reclamation system is vital to their success. Water and sewer bills continue to increase, and without the ability to reuse water, operating costs can go up dramatically. However, as great as a water reclaim system can be, they are not a good fit for every wash. Dean Taylor, vice president of CATEC Water Recovery and Ozone Systems explained what makes a reclaim system a worthy purchase:
- A good rule of thumb, said Taylor, is that if your water and sewer bill is over $1,000 a month, your wash can start to justify a water reclaim system.
- To better understand how a water reclaim system will work for your wash, a pro forma questionnaire is done, said Taylor, which takes into account things like how many gallons of water your wash uses, what is the cost per car, how many cars you wash, and other factors.
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- It is important to understand that when you buy a reclaim system, there are more than just the upfront costs, Taylor said. Tanks need to be installed, electric is going to go up a little bit and there are also maintenance costs, he continued. Getting all the necessary information on future expenses is important in determining if a water reclaim system is right for your wash.
- Having space for reclaim equipment at the carwash is not usually a problem, he said, but it is another thing that you need to think about.
Once you've taken these factors into consideration, you will have a much better idea if a water reclaim system is a good fit for you wash.
