Water Conservation

In the wake of the massive winter storm that blanketed Texas with snow and ice last week resulting in power outages and the need for curtailed water use in some areas, we wanted to provide our customers some insight into how our equipment works and how we try to minimize our impact on the environment.

Like many small businesses, Snap Clean closed last week to keep our employees and customers safe and off the roads. Additionally, our equipment functions best when the outdoor temperature is above 28 degrees, and our detergents and shine agents do not rinse well when the surface of a car is too cold. For these reasons, Snap Clean does not wash cars in extreme cold temperatures.

As businesses reopened and started getting back to normal post-storm, some communities were asked to keep water use to only essential functions like drinking and bathing. As local supplies return to normal levels, we wanted to take a few minutes to update our customers on how Snap Clean works to reduce its impact on the environment and preserve water resources.

Washing cars is an inherently water-dependent business. We can’t wash without water, and it’s one of our biggest costs. If you think about it, it just makes economic sense to try to reduce the cost of our water as much as possible if it’s one of the biggest costs we incur. Water usage has an impact on the environment, not only in terms of the amount of water used but also in terms of how much runs off and what that run off contains. Here are some of the ways we reduce our environmental impact.

Recapture: Our car wash recaptures up to 90 percent of the water we use. Does your driveway do that? This is a direct savings to us as a small business AND reduces our environmental impact, benefiting our communities. By recapturing the majority of our water, we help protect local water sheds and reduce our overall water consumption.

Soften and Purify: By adding water softeners, we can remove spot-causing contaminants. This allows us to reduce chemical costs because the products we use work better in softer water. It’s kind of like washing your hair. The detergent in your shampoo goes further and you can use less of it when it is used with softer water. When used in combination with the purest water we can achieve, our chemicals can rinse away more efficiently which in turn helps us to – you guessed it – use less water.

Reuse: Our recaptured water is treated with our state-of-the-art Velocity Water Works Reverse Osmosis system which helps ensure a spot-free shine every time you visit our car wash. The same system that allows us to deliver a reliable spot-free shine also helps us to keep our equipment in optimal condition. Our systems reduce mineral deposits caused by water that impacts the longevity of our equipment and ultimately our ability to wash cars.

While car washes depend on water to do business, we hope an overview of our environmental practices helps put your mind at ease when you think about the environmental impact of washing your car. Commercial car washes are far more efficient than washing as home in the driveway. We are part of the communities where we do business, so we want to preserve resources and protect the environment. Rest assured that when you visit Snap Clean, you are doing business with an environmentally conscious small business.