A wash, recover and discharge pressure washer trailer lets a mobile cleaning crew wash, vacuum up the dirty water, treat it on board and legally discharge it to a sanitary sewer where permitted, instead of letting runoff reach storm drains. This Hot And Mighty General series build pairs a hot and cold water pressure washer with a 250 CFM recovery vacuum, a 535-gallon water tank and an on-board oil/water/solids separator and filtration system.
Why wash water recovery matters for mobile washers
Under the Clean Water Act and local stormwater rules, wash water containing oil, grease, soap and dirt generally can't be allowed to flow into storm drains. Contractors washing parking lots, fleets, drive-thrus and equipment are increasingly required to recover that water. A wash-recover-discharge rig lets them take on that work and stay compliant.
What's on this pressure washer trailer
| System | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pressure washer | Hot And Mighty MCS-3506, hot or cold water, 5.7 GPM @ 3,500 PSI (or two operators at 2.85 GPM), 630cc Honda GX engine, belt drive triplex General pump |
| Recovery vacuum | MV13-250: 250 CFM Gardner Denver blower, 13 HP Honda, high-water shut-off, 30-gal stainless waste tank and 15-gal sand catcher |
| Discharge system | 150-gal aluminum oil/water/solids separator with reusable coalescing grid pack, backwash multi-media filter and bag filter |
| Water tank | 535 gallons with 2" quick-dump valve |
| Hose | (2) reels with 400' total of 5,800 PSI hose; 200' 2" crush-resistant vacuum hose on a reel |
| Surface cleaning | 21" stainless steel surface cleaner with recovery port |
| Power | 7,000 W Honda generator |
| Trailer | 7' x 20' enclosed cargo, (2) 6,000 lb Torflex axles, electric brakes, sprayed-in slip-resistant floor, LED lighting |
How the wash-recover-discharge process works
- Contain. Sandbag berms and a recovery dam keep wash water in the work area.
- Wash. Operators clean with the hot water pressure washer or the surface cleaner.
- Recover. The vacuum pulls water through the surface cleaner's recovery port or a recovery wand into the on-board drums.
- Treat. Water runs through the oil/water/solids separator and filters.
- Discharge. Treated water goes to a sanitary sewer, where the local authority allows it.
Recover and discharge, or full recycling?
If you can discharge to a sanitary sewer at most job sites, a recover-and-discharge setup like this one is the simpler, lower-cost choice. If you work where discharge isn't allowed, or water is scarce, step up to a recycling system like our WR2020 recycling system, which filters water to 20 microns for reuse.
Video walkthrough
Frequently asked questions
Can I discharge recovered wash water into a sanitary sewer?
Often, yes, after treatment, but rules vary by city and utility. Always check with the local sewer authority first.
What size recovery vacuum do I need?
A 250 CFM vacuum handles a single operator or surface cleaner at 200' or more. For two operators or longer runs, step up to our 450 CFM recovery vacuum.
Can I add recovery to the pressure washer I already own?
Yes. Our 250 CFM recovery vacuum and oil/water/solids separator can be added to an existing rig.
Build your wash, recover and discharge trailer
Every Hot And Mighty trailer is custom built in South Bend, Indiana. Call 800-897-7515 or text us through the chat on this site for a quote.
