california shop water system....

S

sacdetailing

New member
How do you control a water from washing cars legally in here? California, because you cant wash cars with water going into the drain. like do you install some things under your shop or what?
 
"Car washes" in general have substantial environmental regulations. Check with your local government regarding the zoning for "car washes" and "detail shops". Explain that you will use much less water than a traditional car wash. If you use ONR there is really no need for drains because all that ends up on the floor, is drips and small puddles of water.
 
The laws vary by city and county. Some cities like Calabasas dont alow a single drop of water to touch the ground.



Most of our customers do one of three things:

1. Use waterless products. There are soap, wax, and degreaser variants that dont require rinsing.

2. Use a combination of car washing mats, dams, and extraction of waste with a reclaim system.

This waste water can usually be dropped of at some trailer parks or drained in your home waste drainage system which is treated by the city. Just not anything that goes into storm drains.

3. They ignore the laws. Some will wash in less conspicious areas to hide their activities.
 
yes, waterless car wash is a very good option. I do some jobs at apartment buildings and they will not let you use water even if you have a mat...
 
Reclamation mat. Basically a vinyl mat with short walls all around it and a pump that pumps the collected water out. I've seen decent setups for $2K to $3K.
 
You will need an oil/water seperator, and depending on the area, you may also need a water recycler. I would call a local inspector and find out first.





John
 
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