What this tool does
Turns a comparable meter interval and verified vehicle count into an operator baseline that can be repeated before and after equipment or reclaim changes.
When to use it
Use after recording a dedicated or defensibly isolated water-meter interval and the vehicles processed during the same period.
Inputs and supported units
Each labelled field explains the quantity it expects. Unit-system changes convert existing numeric entries once and keep calculations on a single SI internal basis. Supported shared units include L/min and GPM, metres and feet, kPa and psi, millimetres and inches, kW and hp, and °C and °F as relevant.
Calculation or decision method
Annual use = interval use / interval days × operating days
How to interpret the result
Read the primary result with the supporting breakdown and warning. A plausible number is not evidence that every input, operating case or design constraint has been included.
Worked example
A 15,000 L meter increase across 300 vehicles in five days equals 50 L/vehicle, 3,000 L/day and 900 m³ across 300 operating days.
Assumptions
Steady representative operating periods; user-entered meter, equipment, tariff and operating data; volumes are quantity balances rather than water-quality claims.
Limitations
No treatment technology, discharge route, oil-water separation, chemical compatibility, permit condition or manufacturer package is selected or approved.
Sources
- U.S. EPA WaterSense at Work — Vehicle Washes
- U.S. Department of Energy — Vehicle Wash Water-Use Estimating Methods
- International Carwash Association — Water Use, Evaporation and Carryout
- U.S. Department of Energy — Handbook of Water Use and Conservation