• BWEP funding $23,378
• Water savings 4 million litres a year

Background

Sunbus is the operating entity of Transit Australia Pty Ltd, one of Queensland’s largest urban bus operators, with more than 500 employees.

Sunbus operates some 200 midi/large buses throughout Queensland on the Sunshine Coast and in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.

The distinctive blue Sunbus fleet carry 10 million locals and tourists annually.

Recognising the business and environmental benefits of saving water, Sunbus sought assistance from the Business Water Efficiency Program to install a bus wash at its Marcoola workshop.

The bus wash has streamlined the company’s operations and reduced its reliance on the town water supply.

Water saving project

The Sunbus water efficiency project involved the installation of two 23,000 litre above ground rainwater tanks and two 3,000 litre underground holding tanks to capture rainwater harvested from the rooves of several large buildings on the company’s Marcoola workshop site.

Rainwater is filtered and used in the automated bus wash while a recycling system captures 85% of the bus wash run off water for reuse. PVC curtains erected at the bus wash exit capture water spray within the collection point of the wash bay.

All chemicals used in the bus wash are 90% bio-degradable, minimising the environmental impact of the facility.

Water saving achievements

The bus wash project has resulted in major efficiency gains for Sunbus.

Prior to the installation of the automated system, it took eight operators to wash the outside of 10 buses over an eight-hour day.

The bus wash has given Sunbus the capacity to wash 75 buses in the same amount of time, using far less water and only two operators.

The bus wash also saves on electricity and cleaning chemicals. The environmental impact of washing buses has been reduced by containing water within the washdown facility.

A word from the business

‘After the implementation of water restrictions for businesses in South East Queensland, Sunbus decided to be most proactive and install a bus wash system that is self sufficient and will provide long term savings to the business and the environment. Sunbus management is very pleased with its operation and long term viability.’ - Andrew Hemer, Sunbus