Have you ever thought about who needs water the most right now? The invitation is to reconsider excessive washing of cars.
As a result of the different climatic phenomena that are currently occurring, municipal councils, mayors and the Traffic and Police Codes had to regulate activities such as washing facades, platforms and vehicles in places of residence. For this reason, the rise of ‘laundries’, as they are popularly called, has increased for more than a decade.
Furthermore, the National Traffic Code classifies this conduct as an improper practice and is punished financially with an amount that increases according to the circumstances found by the authority at the time, for example: based on paragraph 9 of article 160 of the Code already specified, The sanction applies if the action of washing the car prevents the circulation of pedestrians or traffic on the roads.
Eye! this can cost you
Although the difference between the two sanctions is quite wide (close to half a million), for this year the value of the Traffic fine is approximately $64,000 thousand, which can be converted into almost $97,000, if the development of this activity causes an accident. While the Police Code stipulates that it is prohibited to wash vehicles on public roads, rivers, canals or streams in cities. Plus the immobilization. ‘People who fail to comply with this rule receive a penalty equivalent to eight current legal daily minimum wages.’
How are things in La Perla?
Pereira’s vehicle fleet is large and just as there are cars, but especially public transport vehicles that are embarrassing, it can be said that in general what corresponds to family-type cars, the owners make an effort to make it look clean, but here The discussion enters whether two buckets and a rag count within the infraction or there should be a hose-type element.
Given the inclement phenomenon of these days, a tour was made for this article and it was learned that both the Environmental Police and Carder permanently make visits to the washing establishments to verify that they comply with the conditions and requirements, such as having valid licenses. of water discharges, permits for the concession of groundwater, management of toxic waste and garbage, also having the adequate and necessary physical infrastructure that serves as grease and oil traps, as well as the land use permits granted by the municipal administration.
In all the establishments visited, the commitment was verified, because there are cisterns located at least 20 meters underground from which water is supplied. It was also learned that they make rational use of water, because they have pressure machines or pressure washers that when turned off would not be able to wash a toothbrush, but when turned on they do not take even a minute to completely soak a car. It should be remembered that energy is generated with water anyway.
Pressure washing saves on water consumption, even if it is not potable. Figure
75 cars can be washed in one of these establishments on a Saturday and the motor of each pressure washer is five horsepower, but they put it on three-phase to save energy.
Given
Washing a car in winter can require 20 liters of water.
Other aspects
There are also car washes on South Avenue and one of them works with the Water and Water supply, because it is part of a service station, although they also work with pressurized water due to the heat wave, they have self-regulated and reduced their opening hours. in five hours so that there is no rationing.
How does this laundry work?
Héctor Fabio Taborda – administrator
“We do not use the water from the aqueduct except for the cafeteria. The well collects all night and in the morning we fill tanks, because it is only exterior washing, since the interior is a vacuum cleaner and cloths.”
Daniel Suárez – administrator
“We have a cistern and the water consumption is minimal, because the nozzles are the thickness of a needle. We have two teams here, but in the summer people don’t bring it as much. All of these businesses have to have everything up to date.”