ORLAND PARK (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Although rain showers have been few and far between, the growing drought conditions in the Chicago area do not seem to be having an impact on some people getting their cars washed.
The U.S. Drought Monitor said the lack of much rain in the Chicago area and Illinois has created conditions that have gone from abnormally dry to moderate drought in the last two weeks.
At Tommy’s Express Car Wash in Orland Park, site leader and general manager Chris Kantzioris said business has actually grown. He said the company has added more than 200 new members in the last 12 days. Motorists can pay for unlimited car washes for a set fee each month or pay per car wash.
He said his business washed 33% more cars last month than they did in May 2022.
While cars may not be as dirty as they’d be when the area gets a normal amount of rainfall, Kantzioris said people still get car washes to clean off the pollen and bugs.
Kantzioris said his business is doing its best to use less water.
“One thing about our car wash is we use recycled water,” he said. “We recycle our water. We use about 40% less per car than other car washes do.”
Kantzioris says most car washes use about 50 – 60 gallons per car, while Tommy’s uses 25 – 30 gallons.
As for how Tommy’s recycles its water, Kantzioris said: “The water goes underneath the belt, underneath the ground into our reclaim tanks where the water’s filtered back through a system and back through certain parts of the car wash.”
Cyndi Ronczkowski said she gets her car washed every couple of weeks.
“It’s just convenient to get a quick wash and wipe it down and take care of your car, because you got to take care of your car,” she said.
Chris Kantzioris said a portion of every car wash is donated to the Water Mission, which provides clean water to parts of the world that don’t have it.
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