• You're one step from joining Car Wash Business Forum – Startup Tips, Equipment & Profit Strategies.
    Create a free account to post, follow threads, and never miss an update.  Sign up free →

In-bay automatic typical water usage?

CarWashBravo

New member
Joined
Aug 8, 2025
Messages
2
I'm hoping to get some idea on water usage from other guys here who run an in-bay automatic. I've been running it for a few months now. I just got a water bill and the meter showed we used over 200,000 gallons last month!!

Now I'm thinking it if there's an issue with the machine or if this is just the reality of not having a reclaim system. It's a touchless unit, so I know it uses a good bit of water, but I'm looking for some numbers to compare. What's a typical range for water consumption per wash on a good day? I'm trying to figure out if I have a leak or if I need to start budgeting for a serious upgrade.

Thanks for all your insights!!
 
Most touchless in-bays average around 30 to 70 gallons per wash, depending on the setup. If your wash count doesn't match up, I'd definitely start checking for leaks or stuck valves and a reclaim system seems like a better option looking ahead
 
Most touchless in-bays average around 30 to 70 gallons per wash, depending on the setup. If your wash count doesn't match up, I'd definitely start checking for leaks or stuck valves and a reclaim system seems like a better option looking ahead
true, a typical touchless wash can use anywhere from 30 to 60 gallons per car, sometimes even more, depending on the wash cycle.
for OP, the best thing you can do is check your machine's wash count and divide your total gallons used by the number of washes.
If that number is over 100 gallons per wash, you've almost certainly got a leak or a program that's using way too much water. Most operators consider 200,000 gallons a month a good reason to look into a reclaim system
 
I'm hoping to get some idea on water usage from other guys here who run an in-bay automatic. I've been running it for a few months now. I just got a water bill and the meter showed we used over 200,000 gallons last month!!

Now I'm thinking it if there's an issue with the machine or if this is just the reality of not having a reclaim system. It's a touchless unit, so I know it uses a good bit of water, but I'm looking for some numbers to compare. What's a typical range for water consumption per wash on a good day? I'm trying to figure out if I have a leak or if I need to start budgeting for a serious upgrade.

Thanks for all your insights!!
@CarWashBravo if your math shows more than 100 gallons a car like @b3rrybrownie_ mentioned, that's not just high, that's a red flag. I'd be checking for hidden leaks before sinking money into upgrades.
 
Back
Top