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Fort Carson Water Conservation

Vehicle Washing

Summary

Fort Carson, an Army installation located near Colorado Springs, CO, has implemented water conservation methods that have saved the Fort more than $333,000 annually. One of the main contributors to this achievement is the closed-loop recycling water treatment facility that was installed at the Fort's Central Vehicle Wash Facility (CVWF).

Background

Fort Carson's water is supplied by the City of Colorado Springs which draws its water from reservoirs throughout the region. Rapid growth in the area has burdened the water supply, making it more expensive. Fort Carson recognized that any water reuse or recycling would extend water supplies while providing significant cost savings.

Process Modifications

For the past nine years Fort Carson has operated the CVWF equipped with a closed-loop water treatment system that continuously recycles the wash water for reuse. This system has a storage capacity of 9.6 million gallons and may pump 10 million gallons in a full day of operation. Used wash water is treated by passing it through grit chambers, sand filters, oil skimmers, and aeration basins. During the last two-and-a-half years no additional water has been needed to operate the system. Rainfall compensates for any loss due to evaporation.

Results

The facility has washed up to 491 vehicles in one day and has saved 150 to 200 million gallons of water annually. Since its installation, the closed-loop water treatment system at the CVWF has conserved 2 billion gallons of water for Fort Carson.

Source: "Environmental Update" - A Quarterly Publication of Army Environmental News Vol. 11, No. 1 Winter 1999

C-31-99