Lawrenceville, Georgia council approved rule on conveyor car wash water recycling, draft minutes show

The city council of Lawrenceville, Georgia, approved an ordinance on August 24 that would require new commercial conveyor car washes to install operational water recycling systems and recycle at least 50 percent of the water they use. The draft minutes record the item passing on the consent agenda with five yes votes and no opposition.

The draft in the agenda packet covers new conveyor washes regardless of water source. It does not apply to conveyor washes permitted or built before January 1, 2011, or to self-service and in-bay automatic washes.

The packet says the city underwent a 2025 audit by the state Environmental Protection Division of its stormwater program under the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s plan, and that the audit required adoption of a model ordinance. The draft’s recitals say jurisdictions in the district are required to adopt or comply with its model ordinances. The draft takes effect on adoption and lists no fiscal impact.

It does not say how the 50 percent is measured or what penalty applies, and its ordinance number was blank. The staff request asked for authority to execute the document pending city attorney review.