Drainage - Car Wash
Drainage - Car Wash
(OP)
An architect wants to hire me to do the drainage plan for a car wash.
Does anyone know the tasks/items needed that are required to do a drainage plan for a double bay, automatic car wash?
Thanks a lot!
Does anyone know the tasks/items needed that are required to do a drainage plan for a double bay, automatic car wash?
Thanks a lot!





RE: Drainage - Car Wash
Dik
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
* You will need a mechanical oil-water filter system.
* The system will also have to clean out the grit, fines, and phosphates from the water prior to discharge to the sanitary sewer system - similar to a mechanical bioswale.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
So, for this effort, it sounds like I need to calculate the worst case amount of water that will need to be processed by the system (separator, lines, etc.) before it discharges into the sewer. Then match this up with a suitable design to make sure it can handle the amount.
It sounds like I need to design a filtering system and link it in with a oil/water separator. Then design the clean effluent to go into the sewer. Does this sound about right?
Thanks for the help!
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
The operator of the sewer system will tell you if you have to filter, etc. The typical car wash would not require any treatment, but it will depend on the location and the car wash equipment on your project.
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
1. Grit separation
2. Oil/Water separation
3. Filtering or treatment before discharge.
There are proprietary package systems for each of these items. Confine your car wash effluent so that you don't cross it over with stormwater runoff on the same site. You don't want the stormwater runoff to run through your treatment systems, and the regulatory people don't want it the other way around.
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
I don't know where your from, but you might also need paperwork from the state DEP.
The last one I worked on recycled most of the water, we had to go through oil/water separators with a filter in the tank. The water that couldn't be used went to the sewer system. In MA it's regulated locally and by the State.
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
If it is inside the car wash you talking about, sounds more of an MEP item, i.e. fixture units, pumps, sizing of filtering/settling tanks, etc.
If the drainage is outside the car wash, then your talking about a drainage area map and runoff coeficients based on the rational formula. Area and curb inlets, surface flows, etc.
If the site is large enough (and new, rather than infill) you might even need a detention pond, depending on the juristictional requirements.
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
Even though the architect hired you, he or she may not be aware of such fees involved and therefore the client/owner of the car wash may not be aware of such costs. It sounds like we are talking about just one car wash but if the owner is developing a business plan whether for one car wash or 20, this will be valuable information and it will make you stand out from others that may have overlook this information.
RE: Drainage - Car Wash
RE: Drainage - Car Wash