Tank technology from 3A Wassertechnik for efficient water treatment
31.07.2026
Figure: Berding Beton
The “Mr Clean Carwash” car wash has been in operation in Damme, Lower Saxony, since the end of 2025. This modern car wash meets high standards for sustainability and the conservation of water, a precious resource. As is well known, car washes consume large amounts of water. Depending on the size of the car, a single wash cycle requires 350 to 450 liters of water. With older car washes, this results in very high fresh water consumption, as the water recovery rate is typically very low.
Multi-stage tank system complete with a gravel filter and water softening system
Not so at Mr. Clean Carwash. Thanks to its innovative technology – a multi-stage tank system complete with a gravel filter and water softening system – it is possible to treat 85% of the water used for reuse. Alexander Runnebaum, the owner and managing director of the car wash, had strong partners at his side for the project who are highly knowledgeable in this field. One of these was Otto Christ AG, which has specialized in vehicle wash systems for over 60 years. As one of the leading manufacturers of wash systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and rail vehicles, Otto Christ offers customers customized solutions for car wash parks, gas stations, car dealerships, freight forwarders, and public transportation companies.
To perfectly complement this, 3A Wassertechnik GmbH was brought on board. The “3A” in the company name stands for wastewater treatment, separation technology, and analytics. The company’s products and services focus primarily on solutions for wastewater containing mineral oils, which are in demand for the cleaning, maintenance, and refueling of vehicles. In addition to its separator systems and hydrocarbon containment systems (ABeKW) for light mineral liquids, 3A also manufactures separator systems for fats, which are required by regulations wherever fatty wastewater is generated – such as in commercial establishments, restaurants, hospitals, and similar facilities.
Well-established teamwork
The well-established teamwork – already proven in several projects – and the complementary expertise of the two specialized companies provided an ideal foundation for the project’s implementation. 3A Wassertechnik’s services included expert planning assistance and intensive project support. “We provide detailed advice based on the latest state of the art so that the customer can make the right decision for their needs. At the same time, we place great importance on meeting the needs of everyone involved in the construction project,” explains Meike Leefers, Head of Sales and Project Consulting for Northern Germany at 3A Wassertechnik, outlining the company’s commitment.
The extensive construction project for the car wash with self-service bays was carried out from March 2024 to December 2025. For the pre-treatment of wastewater, 3A installed an underground tank system that was tailored to the mechanical equipment supplied by Otto Christ for recirculating the wash water, as well as the hydrocarbon separation system (ABeKW) compliant with DIN 1999-100 for the self-service bays.
Comprehensive planning phase
This was preceded during the planning phase by comprehensive consultation from 3A regarding the selection of the appropriate tank configuration. The key factors here are the volumes of water generated, which are treated – by removing dirt, mineral oil residues, and chemicals – via a recirculation system. To this end, nine tanks manufactured by 3A for wastewater pretreatment – including settling, aeration, and storage tanks – were installed below ground level at the car wash. For pretreatment, the process water is routed via a distribution shaft into two parallel sludge traps, each with a volume of 10,000 liters. Here, the sediments settle, and submerged bends at the inlet and outlet further retain light materials (e.g., light liquids or abrasion from the washing brushes, etc.). In the subsequent aeration tank, oxygen is introduced to promote the aerobic (“with air”) microbial degradation of the remaining pollutants. The pre-treated wastewater is then directed to a withdrawal basin, where a quartz gravel filter system removes additional contaminants. The “clean water” is subsequently transferred to the service water storage tank, which is also aerated to prevent putrefaction.
The entire project was carried out by Borgerding Bauunternehmen GmbH of Steinfeld. The installation of the multi-stage tank system, including all supply lines, was carried out by Gabau of Diepholz. In the end, everyone was very satisfied, as Meike Leefers summarizes: “The collaboration with all parties involved was excellent. Thanks in particular to our long-standing partnership with Otto Christ, processes were well-coordinated, which benefited the project and its successful implementation!”
The specialized company 3A Wassertechnik GmbH & Co. KG, together with the concrete plant 3A Beton GmbH & Co. KG, has been part of the Berding Beton Group since 2024. For the strong market leader, the acquisition represented a perfect complement to its own rainwater management product line and opens up new prospects for the future through the mutual transfer of knowledge and exchange of expertise.
CONTACT
Berding Beton GmbH
Industriestr. 6
49439 Steinfeld, Germany
+49 5492 87-24
