Family-operated business helps save water

David Swenson, Arbor Car Wash & Lube Center owner, likes a win-win situation. By using solar panels and recycled wash water at his five locations, he's not only making smart financial decisions, but he is also operating an environmentally responsible business.

Swenson's two degrees—in agriculture business and agriculture mechanizations from the University of Idaho—give him a healthy respect for the environment and the knowledge of how to run a successful business without negatively impacting the world around him.

"When you see [Lake Travis] almost turning into a mud puddle, it's pretty discouraging," he said. "And waste of any kind is never good for business."

His experience building and selling car wash parts led him to purchase Splash and Dash, a car wash located in the Arboretum, in 1997. He renamed it Arbor Car Wash and brought his family into the mix—his wife and three daughters help operate the business.

Today, the chain's Lakeway location, which opened about six years ago, includes a full-service lube center, inspection services, detailing and windshield chip repair. Additionally, every car wash uses 100 percent recycled water for the roughly 150 to 200 customers his business serves each day, Swenson said.

Arbor Car Wash has been a Clean Water Partner with the city of Austin since 2001 by reducing pollution to area creeks and rivers. Swenson said his car washes don't have connections to the sewer and instead use a drain field system. The heavy washing water used to blast dirt from a car is reclaimed water that is run through a process to clean it.

"It's not drinkable, but it sure can be used to wash cars," Swenson said.

Along with this effort to help protect the environment, Arbor Car Wash & Lube Center regularly donates car washes to churches, schools and other organizations to help them raise money. For Swenson and his family, this is a major part of what makes the business a success, he said.

"I think it helps us become a stronger part of the community," he said. "And that's always been important for us."

Additional lube services

In addition to a variety of car wash and detailing services, Arbor Car Wash provides a full-service lube center. The business can perform vehicle inspections and the following:

• Oil changes
• Oil cleaner
• Air filters
• Brake check
• Vehicle inspection
• Belts
• Tire rotation
• Batteries
• Wiper blades
• Lighting
• Headlights
• Fuel injection
• Coolant flush
• Power steering
• Transmission
• PCV valves

Daily specials

• Tidal Wave: Waterworks (basic wash) plus Klear Koat and fragrance ($20.95)
• Waterworks (basic wash): Wash and dried, vacuum, windows, doorjambs, dust dash, console, door panels, ashtrays ($14.95)
• Ben's special: Tidal Wave plus wheel and tire cleaner, vinyl guard tires ($24.95)
• Exterior only: Wash and dried ($11.95)
• The WORKS: Ben's special plus complete vinyl protection package ($34.95)

Detail packages

• Complete interior detail: $109.95
• Hand wax: $49.95
• Wheel and tire detailing: $14.95 each
• Complete detail package - Includes full service wash, complete interior steam cleaning and dressing, Carnuba hand wax, engine dress (optional), wheels and tires detailed and dressed, polish chrome wheels and bumpers ($169.95)

Prices may vary due to size and condition

Other services

• Hand wax: $49.95
• High speed compounding: Varies
• Overspray removal: Varies
• Tree sap removal: Varies
• Tar removal: Varies

Arbor Car Wash & Lube Center, 1110 N. RR 620, Lakeway, 512-266-1300, www.arborcarwash.com

• Summer hours: 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Winter hours: 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Sundays: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.