In-Bay/Self-Serve Solutions Drip, drop, dry
The carwash industry’s most precious resource is becoming
more precious by the minute.
CARR
Kate Carr is the editor in
chief of Professional Carwashing & Detailing.
She can be reached at
kcarr@carwash.com.
Texas is drying up. Operators like Bill Sartor, who owns four self-serve carwash locations in San Antonio, TX, are reminded every time they pick up the morning newspaper and scan the headlines: “Texas shutting off its faucets.” “Wildlife gets thirsty in drought.” “Drought raises economic development questions.” The implications of a drought in Texas extend far beyond state lines, though. Even if the predicted El Nino weather pattern returns to the Pacific Ocean and alleviates the State’s crops and businesses, the regulations, hiked water rates, and public perceptions will remain – and spread throughout the country and the world.
The drought affect “Without water, you cannot sustain life,” explained Charles Borchard, vice president of operations for New Wave Industries, the manufacturer of PurClean Spot-free Rinse Systems and Pur Water Water Recovery Systems. This basic principle guides public perception of the resource, including how it is used by businesses. The hot topic nowadays might be energy conservation or waste reduction, but Borchard painted a picture wherein that
by l Kate Carr, Editor
discussion quickly changed focus. “Survival without energy could be uncom- fortable and could shorten life expectancy by years, but without water you are talk- ing survivability in days,” Borchard stated. “The UN estimates that 18 percent of the world’s population does not have access to usable safe drinking water now.” Carwashes in state’s affected by drought; such as operations in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, know how quickly public perception can turn against car- washes. Many consumers wrongly assume that carwashes waste water and use unfathomable amounts to clean a car. Bill Sartor began fighting that misperception in 1996, and while he has won a battle in San Antonio, he said the rest of the country has some catching up to do. “Nobody thinks it will happen to them,” Sartor explained. “So they don’t seek out the relationship with the utilities.” Sartor
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