CWA URGES CAR WASHES TO MINIMISE WATER CONSUMPTION AS UK HEADS FOR A DROUGHT

The Car Wash Association (CWA) has written to the heads of major water suppliers in the UK, the Environment Agency and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to explain what measures our members are adopting in order to minimise water consumption in car washes.

After record-breaking temperatures and another heat wave impacting this week’s weather, the UK seems to be heading for a drought, consequentially imposing limits on water use. 

Over the years, car wash operators have dedicated much of their efforts in developing methods that decrease reliance on the water companies, using boreholes, installing recycling equipment and implementing water saving through advanced techniques in order to reduce their overall consumption by limiting usage.

Members in areas where further stricter restrictions have been applied as a result to any existing hosepipe bans are encouraged to adhere to CWA guidance, which includes a traffic light scheme.
Those unable to reduce their water consumption by at least 20% may have to consider whether it is appropriate to continue operations.

Alexander Russell, the Car Wash Director of Strategy, commented:

“Members of the Car Wash Association have been very aware of the need to adapt their businesses to the changing climate and have acted rapidly to do so through a variety of measures and techniques.

Russell continued: “It would be unfair for our members to be deprived of their livelihoods by any stricter restrictions on water usage that might follow an existing hosepipe ban, considering their substantial investments in creative and innovative methods to reduce water consumption in recent years.”