Zero Discharge or Closed Loop System
A zero discharge system (or closed loop system) is designed to recycle, filter and reuse the water
that is used by a pressure washer or steam cleaner.
How does it work? Typically, the wash pad where you are pressure cleaning is designed with a slope
and drain that captures wash water runoff to a sump, or holding tank. The water is then sent through
filtration equipment where solids, oils and other small particles are removed from the water.
There are different technologies used to filter the water, one popular choice is bioremediation,
or biological treatment, which is ideal for waste streams which are high in oil and grease. This
involves adding microbes to the water that naturally eat the oil and grease. The variety of
filtration equipment
used is by choice, and depends entirely on your needs and budget.
Solids such as dirt, grease, and metals are filtered from the water and become sludge, which can be
removed and cleaned from the closed loop system later. The water is eventually fed into a holding tank,
ready for use the next time the pressure washer is used. The water is recycled in a closed loop;
nothing is discharged to sewer, thus the name – zero discharge system.
Choosing a zero discharge environmental system is a must for businesses without access to city sewer,
or those with strict governmental policies about discharging wash water to ditches (surface discharge).
To determine if a closed loop system is right for you, contact Evans Equipment & Environmental today
for a
free on-site evaluation.