Britannia helps fleets cut costs and carbon
Commercial wash equipment manufacturer Britannia Wash Systems has created a water recycling system which it says allows fleet operators to keep their vehicles gleaming, while reducing their impact on the planet and helping them to reduce costs.
“Driving down costs and adopting a green agenda are two of the highest priorities for any UK business in 2023,” said the company.
“Endless headlines about rising costs and the damage to the planet mean companies are constantly seeking new ways to make savings and to reduce their environmental impact.”
Britannia’s new water recycling systems collect wastewater from different sources on site – for example from a vehicle wash bay – filtering it and enabling it to be safely reused.
Instead of running clean, unused water directly from the mains, businesses are now able to source and re-use a supply which is already treated and filtered to the required standard, the company explains – saving energy in the process by avoiding the continual treatment and processing of new supplies of water.
The water is said to be safe for cleaning, heating, cooling and other purposes, reducing the energy and carbon otherwise needed to pump, transport, heat and store process water from alternative sources.
The system is also able to check, monitor and control specific risks associated with Legionnaires’, the firm adds, allowing the operator to run the wash plant with confidence that all water spray particles are within specified requirements before distributing to the wash pad.
Further safeguards such as screens for the jet washing bays are also available, offering protection against pollutants and reducing surface-run-off and overspill.
Dave Barker, managing director of Smith Bros & Webb which supplies the Britannia systems, said: “Drawing water from the mains for non-drinking purposes is extremely wasteful as all mains water is extensively treated to make it safe for human consumption.
“The standards required for water used simply to wash buses and coaches are far lower, so reclaimed water is extremely adequate in these circumstances and complies fully with the wide-ranging environmental regulations.
“Water reclamation, therefore, reduces your carbon footprint indirectly by avoiding the need for utilities companies to process water used exclusively for commercial purposes.”
Dave added that fleet operators could save thousands of pounds in energy bills by making the switch to a water recycling system.
“Most operators start to see the financial benefits almost immediately after installation and the savings keep adding up over time as there are no added costs in sourcing water from the mains,” he continued.
“In the long run a good system provides a very high return on investment… especially if you own a large fleet of commercial vehicles that require regular cleaning, or operate multiple locations throughout the country.”
