Why can car washes in France remain open despite drought restrictions?
Professional car washes often include water recycling systems
Reader Question: If there are drought restrictions in my area, can I still use a car wash?
A major summer drought now looks increasingly likely in France, as successive heatwaves and a lack of rainfall dry out soils.
The majority of French departments now have at least one commune with tap water restrictions in place or are warning residents to be cautious of water usage before restrictions come into force.
Drivers will be aware that among the first restrictions to be implemented is a ban on washing your vehicle at home, although note that it is possible to be fined at any time of year for this practice under certain conditions.
Bans on washing cars due to drought restrictions can cover either a certain period of the day – typically daylight hours – or include a total ban depending on the severity of the drought alert.
As restrictions are implemented on a communal basis, you should check for specific restrictions in your area, using the government’s VigiEau website and reading our article on the website here.
Fines can reach up to €1,500 if you are caught washing your car at home when restrictions are in place.
What about car washes?
Eagle-eyed drivers in communes subject to restrictions however will have noticed that car washes often remain open even when restrictions prevent them from washing vehicles at home.
Far from an oversight, this is because car washes are generally far more eco-friendly than washing a vehicle at home.
A car wash with high-pressure washing capabilities uses only around 20% of the water a homeowner does to clean their vehicle.
If the car wash has a water recycling system installed, it can recycle approximately 70% of this water for cleaning purposes.
Whereas washing your car at home can use up to 300 litres of water if using a hose – all of which is wasted – a car wash with a recycling system produces less than 20 litres of waste water, with some sources citing as little as six litres of waste water.
Since car washes have a vested interest in reducing water usage throughout the year to keep costs low, many have recycling systems installed and are allowed to stay open in times of drought.
Car washes face restrictions based on the following alert levels:
Vigilance - similar for homeowners, businesses are not required to undertake any action but simply asked to remain cautious over water usage
Alerte - Car washes can open if they use bays equipped with high-pressure washers or gantry systems that recycle water, but in some cases even general car washes can remain open at this level. Operators claiming to have eco-friendly measures installed must be able to prove the presence of a recycling system and show the amount of water consumed per wash at each payment terminal, and regularly monitor total water usage alongside the origin of the water used
Alerte renforcée - Only car washes using high-pressure equipment or a water recycling system can remain open, if allowed under the prefecture decree and able to prove the measures are correctly in place. Restrictions may also limit them to opening only a single lane. All other car washes must close
Crise - During the most severe restrictions, car washes must also close except for certain vehicles. Health and safety exemptions exist for washing vehicles such as certain agricultural machinery, food transportation vehicles, concrete mixers, harvesting equipment, or safety-related vehicles including ambulances, but standard drivers cannot use the facilities
In the case of a car wash flouting restrictions and remaining open, both the business and individuals using it can be fined.
Again, you can use VigiEau to check restrictions in your area, including for businesses to ensure you do not accidentally fall foul of rules.
