Car Wash Mats

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ChromaDetail

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For those of you required to collect your water what do you use? Did you make your own?

In the 4 months I had mine it had to be patched three times. Then a few days ago someone ran it over and tore it beyond repair. Unfortunately I did not see who did it. I was using the one sold by chemical guys. Leaning towards making my own but open to buying another if it is well made and will actually last. Not sure the best way to go about making one.

sorry if this is the wrong forum new here
Thanks!
 
Detailing by M said:
why do you use a mat?
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Discharging sediment or phosphorus laden water to the storm sewer is against the law or bylaws in many places. Refer to your HOA, city, watershed district or state pollution control agency/DNR for associated rules in your area. Larger cities fall under MS4 rules and have a SWPPP that may restrict this type of activity as well.

There are many similar products to the CG. Look up wash pads, wash down pad or secondary containment as some key words.

If I were to make one I would consider some large tarps and the pool floating foam noodles, just a very rough concept.
 
As has been suggested, perhaps you should try a containment boom, rather than a mat. Or switch to a waterless or rinseless process.
 
You can search "car wash mats" to find companies that sell the mats and reclamation equipment.
 
Pureshine said:
In some cities water is not allowed to go down the storm drain. I know where I live its a 2-5k fine if water goes down the storm drain.
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WOW!

When did that start?

I'm an ex-Seattleite...curious only.

Bill
 
BillE said:
WOW!

When did that start?

I'm an ex-Seattleite...curious only.

Bill
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Its always been that way just most detailers don't follow it. King county will fine and even may shut you down if they find out your dumping water from detailing.
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3DCzy-Rngo]Make your own Car wash mat. - YouTube[/video]
I posted this in another thread awhile back may be in search section
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYWMyLEZFyw]EcoSafe Car Mat - YouTube[/video]
 
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately we can not use a boom here. We have to use a mat the water can not even touch the ground. Partly because of my rental agreement and mostly because of our laws. I think I have come up with a solution. I could not find a mat that met the 4" tall side requirement and fits my budget. Took two pond liners glued them together with the edges left unglued so that noodles or sleeves full of sand can be inserted.


Fyi two days ago I tried those foam noodles. Smashed to oblivion when driven over. Knew it might but was hoping it wouldn't.

Thanks again for your help and still open to suggestions and tips.
 
ChromaDetail said:
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately we can not use a boom here. We have to use a mat the water can not even touch the ground. Partly because of my rental agreement and mostly because of our laws. I think I have come up with a solution. I could not find a mat that met the 4" tall side requirement and fits my budget. Took two pond liners glued them together with the edges left unglued so that noodles or sleeves full of sand can be inserted.


Fyi two days ago I tried those foam noodles. Smashed to oblivion when driven over. Knew it might but was hoping it wouldn't.

Thanks again for your help and still open to suggestions and tips.
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Don't slip the noodle in (that's funny) until you have driven the vehicle onto the mat

Since a surface is rarely perfectly level...put the removable noodles on the high end and drive the vehicle on from that end


Sand would be a PITA to load, unload or move around
 
ChromaDetail said:
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately we can not use a boom here. We have to use a mat the water can not even touch the ground.
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Maybe I'm missing something, but if the water can't touch the ground, what do you do with the water trapped in your mat? Suck it up with a shop vac and pour it in the grass somewhere?
 
Desertnate said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but if the water can't touch the ground, what do you do with the water trapped in your mat? Suck it up with a shop vac and pour it in the grass somewhere?
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Usually the mats have a vacuum attachment or a pump. The idea is that the water would be collected and disposed in the sanitary sewer.
 
BillE said:
WOW!

When did that start?

I'm an ex-Seattleite...curious only.

Bill
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In the great city of Fairmont....it started in 1984: code of ordinances 25-842 & 25-843. In particular for you is iron @ 10ppm and pH less than 5.5 or greater than 9.5.

Lily Creek, Dutch Creek and Center Creek are all on the EPA 303d list as impaired waters for, wait for it.....fecal coliform! Also turbidity, ammonia and fish bioassessments.

Link to Fairmont's SWPPP: http://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/images/7/7b/City_of_Fairmont_SWPPP_Doc.pdf
 
Audios S6 said:
In the great city of Fairmont....it started in 1984: code of ordinances 25-842 & 25-843. In particular for you is iron @ 10ppm and pH less than 5.5 or greater than 9.5.

Lily Creek, Dutch Creek and Center Creek are all on the EPA 303d list as impaired waters for, wait for it.....fecal coliform! Also turbidity, ammonia and fish bioassessments.

Link to Fairmont's SWPPP: http://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/images/7/7b/City_of_Fairmont_SWPPP_Doc.pdf
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Thanx for that...will have to really read that.

I am familiar with the 'creek issues.'

Thanx again...

Bill
 
The bottom line in this is that pretty much anything going into a storm drain other than storm drainage is prohibited by the Federal Clean Water Act. However, since the enforcement of that is delegated to state and local authorities, that is subject to the vagaries of...state and local authorities. So you get enforcement ranging from nothing, to you can't even let effluent touch the ground.
 
yea that whole nothing but rain down the drain is crap. Most of the guys try to interpret bits and pieces of the CWA, but fail to really know what the deal is. We deal with this constantly. We have some contracts we have to recovery water for, such as fedex and we are washing 100+ trucks there. No wash mat. Some of them we can wash in the building and let it go to the OWS and then the sanitary.
 
RonG said:
yea that whole nothing but rain down the drain is crap. Most of the guys try to interpret bits and pieces of the CWA, but fail to really know what the deal is.
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What "guys", detailers or code enforcement officials? They don't do a lot of active enforcement around here, but, and I've told this story before, some guy in my town poured some gasoline out of a mower can into the storm drain in front of his house, neighbor calls the police, winds up with the county hazmat there, damming up the storm line a half mile away...for a half gallon of gas or something.

We also have a whole thing here in NJ about not getting LEAVES in the storm drains, it's customary here for the municipalities to collect raked leaves at the curb in the fall for disposal, but now you can only have them there for a few days, not because it blocks the road, not because they are slippery when wet, , not because it's a fire hazard if people park over them, but because the state doesn't want them washed down the storm drain. And no, it's not a clogging thing, it's some environmental thing.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
some guy in my town poured some gasoline out of a mower can into the storm drain in front of his house, neighbor calls the police, winds up with the county hazmat there, damming up the storm line a half mile away...for a half gallon of gas or something.
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They shoulda just lit a match.
 
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