As part of its water conservation efforts, the Princely Government of Monaco has begun upgrading public car wash stations to include water recycling systems. The first of these newly equipped stations has opened at the Heliport Parking. This innovative system allows for nearly closed-loop water use, meaning the same water can be reused indefinitely.
This water recycling system offers significant benefits. Unlike traditional car wash stations that use potable water from the household supply, this system drastically reduces water waste. Each year, traditional car washes consume thousands of cubic meters of drinking water, which is then discarded into the wastewater system.
The system is also environmentally friendly, relying on a biological process with no chemical additives. Water from the car wash is stored in overhead tanks, where it is decanted, treated in a biological reactor, filtered, disinfected, and then reused.
Additionally, this system ensures the car wash can operate year-round, even during drought conditions in Monaco. Future upgrades with similar systems are planned for car wash stations at the Wurtemberg, La Colle, and Salines parking areas.
