Every day, millions of liters of drinking water are wasted in a routine yet invisible act: washing vehicles. On a planet where 2.3 billion people live in areas facing severe water scarcity, continuing this practice unchanged is equivalent to turning a blind eye to a crisis that is advancing relentlessly. Washing a single car can consume between 200 and 600 liters of clean water, enough to meet a family’s daily needs for more than three days. Worse still, this water becomes effluent contaminated with hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and detergents, often discharged without treatment.
This project breaks with that linear logic and proposes a new paradigm: transforming vehicle washing into a circular, efficient, and regenerative process. It does so through modular treatment and recirculation systems that recover more than 85% of the water used, incorporating chlorine-free disinfection, real-time sensors, and digital traceability. This is not just about saving water; it is about rewriting the relationship between urban services and sustainability. Implemented in industrial and commercial car washes in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the project directly impacts the critical Matanza-Riachuelo basin, where every cubic meter reused means one less polluting discharge and reduced pressure on already overburdened water networks.
This approach not only reduces potable water extraction and prevents contamination of receiving bodies, but also generates quantifiable Water Benefits under the VWBA 2.0 methodology (A-2), allowing companies to demonstrate additionality, intentionality, and traceability of their impact. In a global context where ESG commitments, SBTN targets, and SDG goals are no longer optional, this solution positions itself as one of the most accessible, replicable, and visible ways to accelerate the transition toward truly Water Positive cities.
The project introduces a concrete technological solution to a widespread yet under-recognized problem: the intensive and polluting use of water in vehicle washing. By installing compact, scalable multi-stage treatment modules, including solids separation, advanced oxidation, microfiltration, activated carbon, and UV disinfection, between 85% and 90% of the water used in each cycle is recovered. This reduces consumption per wash from over 300 liters to less than 50 liters, without compromising hygienic or operational quality.
Currently, the sector operates with water- and environmentally-inefficient practices, exacerbated by the absence of specific technical regulations and weak enforcement. Effluents containing toxic residues such as lead, oils, and detergents are often discharged untreated, generating cumulative impacts in urban water bodies already in degraded condition. This situation is especially critical in cities like Buenos Aires, where the project is implemented in facilities located within the Matanza-Riachuelo basin, one of the most polluted in Latin America, according to the CEO Water Mandate.
The actors involved, car wash operators, technology providers, the Buenos Aires City Government, and sector associations, have created a technical-commercial alliance to ensure the model’s scalability and traceability. This solution is particularly replicable in urban centers across Latin America and other regions under water stress, where car washes represent sustained water demand and generate highly polluting discharges. Any company in the transport, retail, vehicle maintenance, or facility management sectors implementing this technology will not only reduce operational costs but will also position itself as a leader in environmental compliance, delivering measurable ESG benefits and generating Water Positive Credits (WPCs) under standards such as Aqua Positive or Act4Water.
The time to act is now. Transforming thousands of car washes into circular water management nodes does not require waiting for major infrastructure works or future regulations: it is already possible, quantifiable, and aligned with the most demanding international frameworks.
The proposed technology integrates a multistage water treatment and recirculation system specifically designed for the variable operational conditions of vehicle washing. The process begins with a mechanical separation unit that removes coarse sediments, sludge, and solids using screens, settling tanks, and grease traps. The water then passes through an advanced oxidation chamber where in situ oxidizing agents (e.g., ozone) break down persistent organic compounds (such as oils, detergents, and hydrocarbons). Next, it undergoes microfiltration using membranes or granular media to remove fine suspended particles, followed by activated carbon treatment to adsorb dissolved contaminants and improve the water’s physical-chemical properties.
The final stage involves disinfection via ultraviolet (UV) radiation or controlled ozone injection, ensuring the elimination of bacteria, viruses, and fungi without generating chlorinated byproducts. The entire system operates in a closed loop, allowing water to be reused in up to 10 successive cycles before partial renewal, achieving recovery efficiencies between 85% and 90%.
The system includes real-time monitoring sensors for key parameters such as turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), flow rate, and conductivity, all connected to an automated control unit. This unit regulates inter-stage flow, automatically triggers backwash or purge cycles, and optimizes internal cleaning frequency based on water quality and total volume treated. The modular and self-adaptive architecture ensures safe and efficient operation, aligned with international water sustainability standards (AWS, ISO 14046), and can be applied to both small car washes and large-scale automated operations.
The implementation system is based on compact treatment and recirculation modules, adaptable to both new and existing vehicle wash facilities. These modules include:
The modules are equipped with turbidity, TDS, conductivity, and flow sensors, with digital connectivity for remote supervision and automatic system adjustments based on real-time parameters. The modular design allows scalability based on the daily water demand of each facility.
Monitoring Plan
The project includes a robust monitoring and traceability protocol, including:
Stakeholders and Partnerships
The project is implemented in coordination with urban wash facility operators, water treatment technology providers, the Buenos Aires City Government (GCBA), and automotive sector trade associations. This ensures an integrated approach with technical, regulatory, and commercial support for implementation and scalability.
This initiative aims to fully transform water consumption practices in industrial and commercial vehicle wash facilities in Buenos Aires. Its core is the installation of modular water treatment and recirculation systems designed to suit various operational scales—from small facilities to fully automated wash centers.
From the outset, the project focuses on reducing potable water use, optimizing water through advanced recirculation technology, and minimizing pollutant discharge into sewer and stormwater systems. Water used in the wash process is captured and processed through multistage treatment: solids separation, advanced oxidation, fine filtration, activated carbon treatment, and safe, chlorine-free disinfection—ensuring it can be reused without compromising hygiene standards.
Real-time digital monitoring systems measure key parameters (turbidity, flow, TDS, conductivity), managed by an automated control unit that regulates flow, backwashing, and cleaning cycles. The system achieves over 85% water recovery, cutting average water use per vehicle from 300 L to under 50 L.
Environmentally and socially, the project provides multiple benefits: easing pressure on freshwater sources in a critical basin like Matanza-Riachuelo, reducing urban pollution, enhancing environmental traceability and compliance, and aligning the sector with SDGs (6, 11, 12, 13). Additionally, the volumetric water benefits (VWBs) generated are measurable via the VWBA 2.0 methodology , enabling the issuance of Positive Water Credits (CAPs) under standards like Act4Water.
This scalable, replicable model offers a concrete, measurable solution for advancing urban water sustainability, while also supporting compliance with frameworks such as ESRS E3, Science-Based Targets for Water, and the EU Green Taxonomy.
