Man washing car

Mobile commercial operators are considered to be ... 'any person or entity conducting a business which is primarily focused on delivering a mobile cleaning service.' Examples include external cleaners, pet washers and mobile vehicle washing and detailing.

If you use town water and you are operating as a mobile commercial washer within the Toowoomba Regional Council area, you must:

  • be trained in efficient water use practices (usually by your industry association)
  • be registered with Toowoomba Regional Council as a trained operator
  • operate in accordance with water use efficiency guidelines and current water restrictions
  • carry a water efficient operator card
  • display a water efficient operator sign/sticker

Council's Water Efficiency Guidelines have been modified from guidelines devised by QWC in consultation with industry. These guidelines can be requested by contacting us.

Water Efficiency Guidelines for pet washers

Efficient water use by the whole community is essential to securing water supply for the long-term. The Water Efficiency Guideline for Pet Washers refers to operators using water from the reticulated (town) supply system to undertake pet washing. This guide can be requested by contacting us.

This guide applies to both:

  • commercial operators (fixed or mobile) undertaking pet washing and grooming and/or
  • non-residential premises (ie. veterinary practices, kennels, animal refuges, groomers).

It is critical that operators involved in pet washing include water use efficiency and advances in technology in their business planning. In addition, operators should continue to upgrade to the most water efficient equipment as soon as it becomes economically feasible.

Demonstrating compliance

All operators undertaking pet washing must:

  • operate in accordance with Toowoomba Regional Council Service Provider Water Restrictions
  • attend an industry association training program and/or
  • ensure staff undertaking pet washing attend an industry association training program
  • be registered with the Toowoomba Regional Council
  • display a sticker on each business vehicle (for mobile operators)
  • be able to provide a registration card on request
  • ensure the registered premises maintains a register of all trained staff on-site.

Mobile Vehicle Washing and Detailing   

Water efficient guidelines for mobile vehicle washing and detailing

Efficient water use by the whole community is essential to securing water supply for the long-term. This guideline refers to mobile commercial operators using water from the reticulated (town) supply system to undertake vehicle washing and detailing.

A mobile commercial operator is any person or entity conducting a business which is primarily focused on delivering vehicle washing and detailing services and where:

  • the service is delivered for a fee or reward on a commercial basis
  • the business has an Australian Business Number
  • the business is registered, the operator is trained and the business otherwise operates in accordance with relevant guidelines published by or on behalf of the council.

The objective of this guideline is to provide advice on:

  • the compliance requirements for mobile commercial operators under Toowoomba Regional Council Restrictions
  • industry water targets, practices and water efficient equipment to be used for particular tasks.

This guideline specifically applies to vehicle washing and detailing operators contracted or hired by residents or businesses to wash standard vehicles such as:

  • sedans
  • four-wheel drives
  • mini-buses (up to 12 seats and less than 4.5 t GVM).

This guideline also applies to washing of vehicles at motor vehicle dealerships, and the washing of rental, chauffeured and fleet vehicles.

It is critical that operators involved in vehicle washing and detailing include water use efficiency and advances in technology in their business planning. In addition, operators should continue to upgrade to the most water efficient equipment as soon as it becomes economically feasible.

This guideline complements the Water Efficiency Guidelines for Fixed Commercial Premises and Large Vehicle Washing.

How to demonstrate compliance

All operators undertaking vehicle washing and detailing must:

  • operate in accordance with Toowoomba Regional Council Restrictions attend an industry association training program; and/or
  • ensure staff undertaking mobile vehicle washing and detailing attend an industry association training program be registered with the Toowoomba Regional Council
  • display a sticker on each business vehicle (or premises)
  • be able to provide a registration card on request.

Mobile commercial operators, who operate on premises where an approved Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP) is in place, must ensure they meet the individual requirements of that WEMP.

Target, practice and equipment requirements

Target requirements

Industry specific data collected from vehicle detailers indicates that it is possible to reliably calculate the average amount of water required to wash an average sized sedan (eg. Holden Commodore).

Table 1 (below) sets out the water use targets using a maximum flow rate of eight (8) litres per minute with a high pressure water cleaning unit.

Step in wash
process
Duration
(mins)
Volume of
water per
wash (litres)
Pre-wash
rinse
0:30 4
Wash 1:00 8
Post-wash
rinse
0:30 4
Total 2:00 16

Practice requirements

  1. Pre-rinse
  2. should be limited to removing excess and loose dirt from exterior painted and glass surfaces only
  3. the vehicle should be rinsed from top down to maximise the rinsing action over the vehicle.
  4. Final rinse
  5. should be limited to removing excess foam and dirt from exterior painted and glass surfaces only
  6. the vehicle should be rinsed from the top downwards to maximise the rinsing action over the vehicle.
  7. Performance
  8. wheels (e.g. magnesium alloy “mag” wheels) · should be cleaned with a sponge and bucket
  9. Wheel arches should not be specifically cleaned.
  10. Where possible, mobile vehicle washers and detailers should:
  11. consider using rainwater from a tank or an alternative water source, and in doing so, consider any health and safety issues
  12. implement strategies to capture, store and transport rainwater or other appropriate types of water to minimise reliance on the reticulated (town) supply system
  13. wash vehicles away from direct sunlight to reduce evaporation
  14. wash vehicles on grassed areas.

Equipment requirements

  1. Weekly checks and maintenance of water equipment should be undertaken to limit waste from leaks.
  2. Operators should carry a hose replacement kit to ensure immediate replacement when a leak occurs.
  3. Efficient high pressure water cleaning units should be used that have:
  4. Reduced flow rates (up to a maximum of 8 litres per minute)
  5. Variable pressure outputs
  6. The ability to self-feed water from buckets or other receptacles.

Important

All chemicals should be used in accordance and compliance with:

  1. Toowoomba Regional Council’s environmental requirements
  2. Environmental (eg. EPA) regulatory requirements
  3. Occupational health and safety requirements.

This guideline in no way seeks to override any current regulatory requirements in relation to environmental, public health, and occupational health and safety matters.

 

For further information please contact Council on 131 872 and ask for WaterWise.

PLAY YOUR PART - BE WATER SMART