Certification Check List (PDF*) Certified Car Wash Companies

The Denver Water Car Wash Certification Program was developed with assistance from the International Car Wash Association and the Rocky Mountain Car Wash Association.

Three Types of Car Washes

There are an estimated 250 commercial car washes in the Denver Water service area. Of these, about 20 are full-service facilities, 130 are gas station in-bay units and 100 are self-serve car washes. Certification of a commercial car wash requires different operational changes for different types of car wash facilities as outlined in the following paragraphs:

Self Serve

• The maximum flow at each nozzle cannot exceed 3.0 gpm.
• For reverse osmosis systems, there must be a way to turn off spot-free rinse or to recycle the reject water from the RO system.
• There must be a weep management system

In-Bay Automatic & Conveyer Systems

• If an in-bay or conveyer car wash has a reclaim system that includes filtration, it will be certified. Existing car washes may qualify for Denver Water's Commercial/Industrial Incentive Program if they choose to install a reclaim system with filtration.
• If no reclaim system is in operation, certification will require that the car wash achieve a 30% reduction in current water use per vehicle.
• Ways to achieve reductions for in-bay systems include reducing nozzle sizes, reducing water pressure, increasing the speed of the cycle time, eliminating a soap pass if more than one is available, and turning off the spot-free rinse cycle.
• Ways to achieve reductions for conveyer systems include reducing nozzle sizes, reducing water pressure, speeding up the conveyer, shortening cycle times, adjusting sensor settings, turning off certain wash and rinse arches, discontinuing the spot-free rinse cycle.

Process for Getting Certified

1. Use the Certification Check List (PDF*) to determine whether your facility qualifies.
2. To arrange an on-site visit, call 303-628-6343 or 303-628-6123, or e-mail conservation@denverwater.org. Leave your contact name and phone number(s).
3. Conservation staff will call to make an appointment for a facilities inspection.
4. During the visit, the Conservation staff person will take various measurements as indicated above, inspect recycling systems and other efficiency systems, and make recommendations for any changes needed to achieve certification.
5. Once all criteria have been met, the Conservation staff will give a Certificate of Efficiency to the car wash. Mobile washers will receive a certificate for each of their mobile machines.

All certified sites will be revisited at least yearly, and may be visited quarterly, to ensure continued compliance with the criteria.

Denver Water maintains a list of certified car washes.

* Note: PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.