How Neglecting Your Pit Cleanings Can Harm the Environment
Take Better Care of the Planet and Your Car Wash Business
When your car wash runoff can no longer drain into designated pits, where will it go? The unfortunate answer is often your local waterways.
Car wash pits are designed to capture and hold contaminated car wash water and mud. But, if those pits are filled to the brim then water starts spreading to other places.
Think about a storm drain clogged with leaves. Water just keeps flowing down your street instead of away and down the drain. The same thing can happen with your car wash pits. Your water will just drain somewhere else instead.
Car wash water headed straight for groundwater or bodies of water can cause serious harm to the ecosystem. Cleaning your car wash pits and safely processing the waste can significantly reduce any environmental impact.
Stinky Pits and Revenue Hits
If your car wash pits are overflowing with sludge and refuse, customers aren’t going to want to use your services. No one wants to pull their car into a self-wash bay that stinks to high heavens. Roll-over car washes that leave your tires and undercarriage dirtier than before are a recipe for bad reviews and scorned customers.
If left uncleaned your car wash pits can:
- Develop foul odors
- Cause pooling or flooding of dirty water and sludge
- Attract pesky insects
How Car Wash Water Threatens Nature
At the end of a car wash, all of the gallons of water used to blast away mud and suds from a vehicle are chock full of contaminants.
That dirty water can contain:
- Soap
- Detergents
- Exhaust fume residue
- Gasoline
- Heavy metals
- Motor oils
- Grease
- Brake lining particulates
- Rust
- Phenols
- Dyes
- Acids
- Ammonia
- Tire cleaner spray
Polluted Water’s Impact on Your Ecosystem
If your contaminated water enters storm drains, vegetated areas or waterways instead of your car wash pits, those environments are subjected to unfiltered water.
Run-off into bodies of water can impact aquatic animal habitats and affect algae growth.
Car wash wastewater that seeps into the ground can harm soil or contaminate groundwater.
Wasting Water and Increasing Utility Bills
Poor car wash drainage can also result in wasted water. If your water recycling is no longer possible or you send customers driving away from a wash at home it could result in water wasted.
Many commercial car wash businesses recycle water to help lessen their environmental impact and keep their water bills to a minimum.
Car washes done with a hose, sponge and bucket at home can take up to 60% more than an automated wash. If your car wash bays are closed down, more customers could resort to washing their cars at home. Which wastes water and creates runoff.
Keep your pits clear and ready to conserve water.
Stay Green and Keep Your Pits Clean
Pit Crew is a national car wash pit cleaning service. Our high-powered vacuum trucks travel around the East Coast and Midwest to clear out car wash pits quickly, leaving no drops behind.
Our scheduled cleanings and emergency services help you stay on top of your pit cleaning. Your car wash pit waste is taken to a specialized facility for processing. This significantly cuts down on your ecological impact and keeps you in line with environmental regulations.
Call Pit Crew today to clear out your dirty car wash pits for a cleaner business and planet.
