Dry Wheel Wash

On the Manchester Engineering Campus Development, by Balfour Beatty for the University of Manchester, a dry wheel wash is being used instead of the temporary high water volume alternatives that had been proposed.

The Measures

During planning the project team identified the use of a stand-alone wheel wash being a user of high volume of water, with over 400 wagons a month being expected to leave site during the first 4 months. As an alternative they have successful trialled and continue to use an Eco-ramp, Dry Wheel Wash system.

The Eco-ramp is a raised steel structure with a saw tooth design. Every vehicle leaving site drives along the structure and the teeth make the tire treads expand and contract so that the muck falls out.

The ramp can then be raised and the muck scrapped away during routine inspections and housekeeping.

The Results

The system has been successful and continues to be used with the following benefits being provided;

• 80-150 litres of water saved per vehicle movement.
• 30,000 litres of water usage avoided during peak usage.
• No power supply required.
• Lower hire costs than traditional wheel washes.
• An estimated saving of up to £1,500 per month to the project in costs avoided.