Our Car Wash Certification Program promotes water efficiency among car washes in Colorado Springs. Car washes that meet the program’s water efficiency criteria will earn a certification from Colorado Springs Utilities.
Application: Car washes will fill out the certification program application, checking the box for each efficiency guideline they are currently using.- Evaluation: Colorado Springs Utilities will conduct an on-site assessment, including a visual inspection for leaks and an operational reclaim system check. Additionally, the program manager will meter the main water supply for up to a week using a submeter or portable ultrasonic meter.
- Verification: After the program manager verifies compliance with the program's water efficiency criteria from the on-site evaluation, a report showing the water consumption over the measured week will be presented to the car wash.
- Certification: Qualifying car washes will receive certification from Colorado Springs Utilities. They will be awarded a banner or yard sign to display their certification.
- Monitoring: Certified car washes are subject to annual audits to ensure continued compliance.
The required efficiency criteria are broken down by car wash type:
Self-serve car washes
- Limit nozzle flow rate to 3 gallons per minute or less.
- All Spot-free reverse osmosis reject water (if used) must be recycled.
- All towel wringers (if applicable) must have positive shut-off valve.
- Spray nozzles must be replaced annually.
- Main water shut-off valve in proper working order with no visible water leaks.
Conveyor/express car washes
- Must have a recycling system in place.
- Limit water consumption to 35 gallons per vehicle on base wash cycle.
- All spot-free reverse osmosis reject water (if used) must be recycled.
- All towel-washing systems (if used) must have a high-level automatic shut off system.
- Main water shut-off valve in proper working order with no visible water leaks.
In-bay automatic car washes
- Must have a recycling system in place OR limit water consumption to 40 gallons per vehicle.
- Allow a 5-second dwell time before the vehicle exits the bay to let water run off into the collection pit.
- Under-body, rocker panel & wheel wash cycles must be re-nozzled and/or calibrated to use no more than 12 gallons per wash cycle.
- All spot-free reverse osmosis reject water (if used) must be recycled.
- Main water shut-off valve in proper working order with no visible leaks.
