This month we have featured in the Commercial Vehicle Wash magazine where we introduce our permanent wash pad and explain the benefits of using them within a vehicle wash facility.
The wash pad article in the November edition of Commercial Vehicle Workshop magazine
What is a wash pad?
A wash pad collects the water used during vehicle washing. As the name suggests the system is set up so it collects effluent from vehicle washing and is placed directly underneath vehicles where it collects the water.
Why are they required?
When using vehicle wash machines it is very common for the water to either be collected in an underground interceptor tank or directly emptied in to a surface drain. Larger users will commonly have underground interceptors which are designed to collect higher volumes of water as they will be used more frequently and produce larger quantities of water, especially if a jet washer is used.
As with all underground works the cost can be significant as there is the need for excavation and extensive manual labour, this makes below-ground collector tanks only a viable option for those that have a bigger budget or use high amounts of water.
Wash pads are a way of simplifying vehicle washing and can be used in heavy duty environments such as car auctions, car sales, hand car wash’s and more. It is seldom known that waste water collected from vehicle washing should not be expelled into surface drains -current legislation asks that all effluent is contained and drained away to a suitable drain such as a foul sewer.
“Pollution of surface waters and groundwater: It is an offence for anyone to cause or knowingly permit: The entry into surface waters or groundwater of solid waste matter, or of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, or the discharge of trade and sewage effluent into surface waters or groundwater without prior consent from the Environmental Regulator.”
Specialist wash pads can be installed to eliminate the need for on-site construction and to provide a solution that is cost-effective and can be transported and installed easily.
How do they work?
Morclean have created a wash pad that captures all of the water into the pad and a surface mounted sump pump pumps the water/effluent to an above ground interceptor which can be discharged to foul, partially treated via a water treatment box which is an innovative product supplied by Morclean.
There are various water reclaim and partial treatment solutions on the market which can eliminate the
need for excavation or ground works. Morclean’s systems also offer a solution that conforms to EA guidelines. Morclean design and install above-ground, partial water treatment systems that offer a new way of treating the outflow from a wash bay or car wash area without the need for a below-ground interceptor.
Where can they be installed?
The Wash pad supplied by Morclean is fully surface mountable and offers the benefits of being easy to move and easy to relocate. Being fully surface mounted there is no need for builders’ works and no civils costs make them a durable piece of equipment. The pad can be installed within hours and with minimal fuss or inconvenience.
The wash pad is fitted with ramps for vehicle access and is built in sections so it can be more easily transported and installed. The wash mat is available in 5x3M and 6x4M standard sizes as well as other bespoke dimensions.
The external gratings are easily removed for cleaning and maintenance, and the Morclean wash bay is manufactured at just 100 mm height to prevent accidental damage should the vehicle not enter or exit using the provided ramps.
Water Reclaim Systems
Our most common water recycling machine is the Morclean Blue Box which is a surface mounted partial water treatment system. It uses filter technology to remove oil and silt from the waste wash water, ensuring that the effluent is safe to dispose of to surface drains. We have also introduced an innovative 6 stages of water treatment to existing water reclaim systems to set us aside from the rest of the market. This ensures that our products are more sustainable and safer for the environment.
We are always on hand to offer advice about water wash systems and can help you source a solution to expensive excavation works, so if you have any enquiries please don’t hesitate to turn to us for advice.
View our vehicle wash pad systems.
