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Construction BMP Guide: C106 Wheel Wash

A wheel wash reduce the amount of sediment transported onto paved roads by washing dirt from the wheels of motor vehicles prior to the motor vehicles leaving the construction site. A wheel wash can consist of a paved shallow depression filled with water, or can be a specialized system that actively pressure washes wheels and tires on a large surface pad with direct drainage to a large sump. This BMP is often utilized when a construction entrance alone is not effective at removing sediment from vehicles and equipment. The most effective wheel washes are used in conjunction with a stabilized construction entrance.

*The contents of this guide are to provide a general overview only. It is the users responsibility to ensure all BMPs utilized on their project meet the requirements of their state and local jurisdictions.

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Eastern Washington          Western Washington

 

 

Properly installing your wheel wash area is crucial to ensuring effective sediment removal while preventing damage to vehicles and equipment.

Wheel Wash Installation:

  • Avoid installing in areas where water dripping from the trucks can run unimpeded into the street 
  • Test clearances and effectiveness using a low clearing truck before paving 
  • Keep water between 12-14 inches deep to avoid damage to truck hubs and filling truck tongues with water 
  • Active pressure washing systems should have a sump of at least 10’x10′
  • A minimum of 6 inches of asphalt treated base over crushed base material or 8 inches over a good subgrade is recommended to pave the wheel wash 

Construction wheel wash area with water draining into large sump
A wheel wash should have its water changed at least daily.
Credit: Frutiger Company AG, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Wheel Wash Maintenance:

  • The wheel wash should start out each day with fresh water 
  • The washwater for the wheel wash should be changed a minimum of once per day. On large earthwork jobs where more than 10 to 20 trucks per hour are expected, the wheel washwater will need to be changed more often.