Use of Power Washer for Sudden Oak Death Mitigation
Andy Trent1, and Dick Karsky2
The USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) has designed, fabricated and tested a prototype portable vehicle washer to help prevent the spread of noxious weed seeds and spores from vehicles entering and leaving infected areas. The concept may have application in the prevention of Sudden Oak Death disease. The MTDC vehicle washer is a closed loop system where the water used to wash the vehicles is recycled. The system uses two high pressure wands to wash the sides, wheels, and wheel wells and an oscillating, high pressure, underbody washer to wash the vehicle’s undercarriage. An industrial rubber mat with foam filled barriers is used to contain the wash water. The contained wash water is pumped from the mat to two 175 gallon settling tanks where large particulate will sink to the bottom of the tanks. The effluent from the settling tanks is then pumped through two filters. The filters use felt bags designed to remove particulate down to 3 microns if desired. After the water is passed through the filters, it is dumped into a 350 gallon holding tank where a high pressure (approximately 800 to 1000 psi), high volume (about 20 gallons per minute) pump pushes the water through the wands and underbody washer. The whole system is mounted on a double axle, 8 by 16 foot trailer that can be towed behind a _ ton pickup. The pumps, generator, and tanks are permanently mounted on the trailer. Space is provided on the trailer to transport the wash mat, hoses, and miscellaneous equipment. The vehicle does not use hot water nor does it use any chemicals, soaps, or detergents to wash the vehicles.
1Project Leader, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology & Development Center, 5785 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59808; (406) 329-3912
2Program Leader, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology & Development Center, 5785 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59808; (406) 329-3912
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