More bad news: U.S. water bills to triple

[Howard]

Larry, its not a matter of being positive or negative, its a matter of being realistic. As I said earlier I wanted to put in a complicated system, and years ago I was a chemical engineer, so I am sure I could do it. The facts on the ground is that the system would fail unless you could control what magic potions people dump into your machines and I don't think you can do that 100% of the time.

[MrMachine]

Originally Posted by Howard

I had heard about that operation, but I had heard it was an issue of water disposal not water supply that lead the reclaimation effort.

You're right Howard. They were more concerned about the waste water than the input, but they used the 3/4" limit to control the waste indirectly.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by Howard

Larry, its not a matter of being positive or negative, its a matter of being realistic. As I said earlier I wanted to put in a complicated system, and years ago I was a chemical engineer, so I am sure I could do it. The facts on the ground is that the system would fail unless you could control what magic potions people dump into your machines and I don't think you can do that 100% of the time.

Howard,

I think Final Rinse water recycling can be safely accomplished and it will happen when water/sewer rates reach some magic number. If the rate in New York, for example, tripled to about 6 cents per gallon; recycling the water from 1 bath could save $.60 -$1.60 per turn depending on the size of the washer. Since many laundromats have historically failed to keep up with rising utility costs, it would seem that water recycling might be a well-received alternative to raising prices in a competative environment with steeply rising water/sewer costs.

Maybe these recycling washers will also incorporate a system for owner-defined detergent/bleach/fabric softener injection to make it a more controlled environment. The customer would simply load her clothes, select the cycle and start the washer. She wouldn't have to bring in any supplies.

[Howard]

I have had customers on many occasions have ruined clothing from bleach that the previous customer dumped into the final rinse. There was enough left in the drain sump to ruin dark clothing in the next wash. While your idea makes engineering sense I think it will be very difficult to safely implement in a laundromat setting.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by Howard

I have had customers on many occasions have ruined clothing from bleach that the previous customer dumped into the final rinse. There was enough left in the drain sump to ruin dark clothing in the next wash...

Howard,

Wow. I have never had that problem and you've had it happen "on many occasions"? Wascomat sumps must be a lot different than Huebsch sumps.

Wouldn't any bleach that is added to the final rinse get drained out during the extract? Are they adding the bleach AFTER the extract? Are Wascomat drain valves closed after the washer's cycle ends? On my washers, anything added during or after the final rinse or after the washer stops would simply drain out to the sewer.

[Howard]

The problem is you can't stop stupid. I don't know why but people sometimes add bleach to the third rinse. The way my Wascos put that bleach in was through a siphon in the third compartment. If they put the bleach in late then some of it would stay there and go into the next customers clothing during their third rinse. Also while the drain valves are open when power is off, there is some water that stays there - not a lot, but you don't need much bleach to ruin black pants.

No this does not happen on a regular basis, but it happens more than I care to remember. As for using rinse water again, the problem is too many customers will dump a half gallon of bleach in a double load washer, I just would not want to risk that getting into the next customers clothing.

That is why recycle and your idea can work well in OPL or other places where you can control what goes in the washer, I don't think you can ever fully control what our customers dump in the machines.

[JeannaJ]

First high gas prices, now water. Higher water bills are likely on the way! For that matter, the water's infrastructure is incredibly pressing and they have to update it, which could be very costly. :3 If there is one source no one should neglect, but many do, it is water. There is no source more precious; not a soul can live without it. Water is like God, we cannot live without it. Water bills in many locations are increasing as the nation's water infrastructure is in dire need of update, which all but assures that water bills will continue to get more costly.

[bo]

Hey Larry, I think Unimac had that exact system except there were two tanks. Tank on the bottom caught the final rinse water and then pumped to a tank above the washer where it was stored until needed. The upper tank emptied by gravity drain into the washer and the pumping was done while other cycles were running so that cycle times were not affected waiting for a pumped fill.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by bo

Hey Larry, I think Unimac had that exact system except there were two tanks. Tank on the bottom caught the final rinse water and then pumped to a tank above the washer where it was stored until needed. The upper tank emptied by gravity drain into the washer and the pumping was done while other cycles were running so that cycle times were not affected waiting for a pumped fill.

Bo,

Interesting.

My own water/sewer rates are very reasonable but in the northeast and southwest, they are rising quickly. In spite of this, competition is also intensifying in those areas. It would seem that operators will have to become even more efficient or else half the laundromats will have to fail so the remainder can survive and prosper.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Adamski

Bo,

Interesting.

My own water/sewer rates are very reasonable but in the northeast and southwest, they are rising quickly. In spite of this, competition is also intensifying in those areas. It would seem that operators will have to become even more efficient or else half the laundromats will have to fail so the remainder can survive and prosper.

No, owners just have to grow a pair and not try to set their prices based on what the lowest price competitor does. This industry seems to have a fear about raising prices that very few other businesses have. Doesn't the local gas station adjust its prices every single time it gets a delivery? Then why not our industry. I know I did. Each time I got a price change for a significant input I would sit down and calculate the impact and immediately add a few cents to my vend prices.

Remember what I said before about defining the business --- it is not the coin laundry business. It is the short-term rental of laundry equipment enabling the resale of utilities to retail customers.