Southern Water is facing calls to rethink drought measures targeting car wash businesses.
The Car Wash Association (CWA) has urged Southern Water to reconsider plans for stricter water restrictions in Hampshire, warning that compliant mechanical car wash operators could be unfairly impacted.
Southern Water has applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for approval to introduce a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB), which would restrict the use of mains water or hoses for cleaning vehicles.
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Brian Madderson, chairman of the CWA, said: "The non-compliant operators use cheap jet washes at high pressure which maximises water flow and the trade effluent is often left to run into roadside drains rather than be controlled as is the requirement of the 1991 Water Act."
Mr Madderson wrote to the Environment Agency arguing the proposed ban does not account for the structure of the car wash market and urged authorities to focus on hand car washes that do not meet regulatory standards.
He argued automated and compliant car washes play a role in maintaining vehicle safety and noted such facilities were allowed to operate during the pandemic, while hand car washes were closed.
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Southern Water has already introduced hosepipe restrictions in Hampshire due to low river and aquifer levels following prolonged dry weather.
The company’s latest request is intended as a further precaution if conditions worsen.
Mr Madderson said the proposed approach would be "grossly unfair and disproportionate" to legitimate operators.
He said: "It appears that Southern Water want to ban all mechanical car washes in the given area without understanding the current market structure.
"We have written and advised that (largely) non-compliant hand car washes account for nearly 70 per cent of the UK valeting market yet appear not to be targeted by this non-essential usage ban (NEUB)."
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