LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — In the desert climate of Southern Nevada, WOW Carwash says it is working year-round to conserve water and reduce its environmental impact, using a combination of water-reclamation technology, biodegradable soaps and energy-efficient equipment.

The Las Vegas-born company says washing a car at home uses roughly 100 gallons of water. By comparison, WOW says it uses about 30 gallons per vehicle and reclaims up to 80% of the water.

WOW says its water-reclamation system exceeds typical local requirements. While local car washes are only required to have one sand and oil separator, WOW says it has four, along with a mud tank and UV filters designed to recycle water, reduce daily water use and ensure no solids are sent to the sewer system.

The company says all water from a WOW Carwash enters a 1,500-gallon mud tank underground at each location to begin separating soils from the water. From there, WOW says the water passes through a series of four sand and oil separators, where oils float to the surface, and soils sink to the bottom. WOW says the cleaned water is then pumped through UV and micron filters to remove remaining contaminants so it can be recycled and reused in the car wash.

WOW also says it repurposes the dirt washed off vehicles. The company says its water-reclamation tanks are pumped regularly by licensed vacuum trucks to maintain efficiency, and what is pumped out is then utilized as fertilizer.

WOW says all cleaning agents used in its tunnel wash process are environmentally safe and biodegradable, and that the soaps are safe to the human touch and for a vehicle’s paint while still being tough on dirt. The company says the cleaning agents break down naturally, reducing harmful runoff that could otherwise flow into storm drains and local waterways.

To reduce its carbon footprint, WOW says it uses energy-efficient equipment, including Variable Frequency Drives that allow electric motors to “ramp down” when demand is low to reduce electricity use during operations.