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SAWS is experiencing a high incidence of main breaks and leaks due to very dry conditions. We are working on repairs across the city and appreciate your patience. View Map

Best Management Practices

All Car Wash Facilities

  • All water-using devices must be maintained to original or improved specifications for the conservation of water.
  • All spray nozzles must be replaced annually with stainless steel or hard ceramic nozzles to ensure maximum efficiency.
  • All water leaks must be repaired as they occur.
  • All toilets utilized at the facility must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
  • All hoses or faucets that are in use must be attended or shut off.
  • All driveways or impervious surfaces should be cleaned by sweeping for purposes other than health and safety.
  • Driveways may be washed with high pressure, low volume systems for health and safety purposes only.
  • All spot-free reverse osmosis concentrate (if such system is in place) must be reused in the wash water holding tank.
  • Oil-water separators must be in proper working order.
  • Remain in good standing with SAWS Wastewater Compliance.
  • Submit yearly pumping receipts showing quarterly manifest of sump serviced by licensed waste hauler. (required by City Ordinance Sec.34-518.1.c)

Self-Service Facilities

  • All chamois wringer sinks must have positive shut-off valves.
  • All high-pressure wash nozzles and pump systems shall be calibrated to flows no greater than 3 gallons per minute. This may be achieved by replacing existing nozzles with a reduced size nozzle and adjusting the pressure generated by the pumps as needed.
  • To alleviate misunderstandings for waste disposal, mandatory signs prohibiting the dumping of vehicle/household fluids must be posted in an effort to lessen these types of practices.
  • All wash wands must incorporate nozzle protectors at all times.

Full-Service Facilities

  • Automatic high-level water cut-offs must be installed in all towel and chamois washing machines.
  • A minimum of 50 percent of water utilized in the rinse phase must be recycled to the collector tanks to be used for the washing phase.

In-Bay Automatic Facilities

  • All chamois wringer sinks must have positive shut-off valves.
  • Some mechanical means must be used to create at least a 5-second dwell time for water to run off the vehicle into the sanitary sewer before vehicle can exit the bay.
  • Direction of spray and timing shall be properly set and shut off when no longer in contact with a vehicle.
  • Basic wash package shall use no more than 40 gallons. Total annual savings are calculated at 988,829 gallons.
  • Premium wash package shall use no more than 75 gallons, except during drought restrictions (See Drought Management Requirements). Total savings as a result of this adjustment are calculated at 1,371,628 gallons

Drought Mangement Requirements

The highest in-bay automatic wash shall not exceed an average consumption of 60 gallons during drought stages.

“Non-Certified” car wash operations will be limited during later stages of drought.