Choosing the right wash water system comes down to capacity
Golf maintenance facilities place particular demands on wash water systems. Mowers, utility vehicles and other turf equipment return carrying grass clippings, soil and other solids, while wash water can also pick up oils, grease and fuel residues from machinery.
Just as important is the way that equipment moves through the wash area. A facility where two operators wash machinery progressively through the day has a different requirement to a larger maintenance operation where several machines arrive back at the shed at much the same time.
That distinction is central to choosing between ESD Waste2Water's GSMS 700-2 Twin Station Biological System and GSMS 800-2 Quad Station Biological System.
The two systems use the same broad treatment principles, but the 800-2 provides considerably more operating capacity and can accommodate more wash stations. The right choice therefore depends less on simply selecting the larger model and more on understanding how the wash bay is actually used.
How the Waste2Water GSMS system works
The GSMS range is designed for closed-loop wash water recycling in turf care maintenance facilities. Rather than allowing equipment wash water to leave the wash pad untreated, the system separates solids and treats the remaining water before returning it for reuse.
Grass clippings and larger debris are removed early in the process. An inclined plate clarifier then assists with the separation of suspended solids before the water enters the biological treatment stage. There, fixed biological media, aeration and microbial activity are used to break down hydrocarbon-based organic contaminants such as oil, grease and fuel residues.
The overall aim is to produce treated water that can be recirculated through the wash area, reducing the amount of fresh water required and limiting the volume of contaminated wash water leaving the maintenance facility.
Both the 700-2 and 800-2 are designed around this process. The principal difference is how much wash activity each system is intended to accommodate.
GSMS 700-2 vs GSMS 800-2: the key differences
The GSMS 700-2 is configured for two wash stations. The GSMS 800-2 has two built-in hose stations and can accommodate up to two additional remote stations, allowing as many as four wash points within the facility.
There is also a substantial difference in published operating capacity. The 700 Series holds approximately 2,355 litres (622 US gallons), compared with approximately 6,942 litres (1,834 US gallons) for the 800 Series.
It is worth distinguishing operating capacity from daily treatment volume. The figures describe the volume held within the system during operation. Actual wash demand depends on factors such as the number of stations in use, wash duration, equipment type and daily maintenance routines.
| Specification | GSMS 700-2 | GSMS 800-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Wash stations | 2 | Up to 4 |
| Operating capacity | Approx. 2,355 L (622 US gal) | Approx. 6,942 L (1,834 US gal) |
| Inclined plate separator surface | Approx. 25.7 m² (277 sq ft) | Approx. 44.6 m² (480 sq ft) |
| Biological media surface area | Approx. 76.4 m² (822.5 sq ft) | Approx. 196.5 m² (2,115 sq ft) |
| Approx. dimensions | 337 x 124 x 163 cm | 473 x 154 x 163 cm |
| Approx. dry weight | 681 kg | 908 kg |
The 800 Series therefore provides almost three times the operating water capacity of the 700 Series, along with a larger clarification area and more than two and a half times the biological media surface area. It also occupies considerably more physical space, which is an important consideration when planning an existing maintenance compound.
When the GSMS 700-2 is likely to suit
The GSMS 700-2 is the more compact option and makes sense where two wash points are sufficient for the facility's normal workflow.
That does not necessarily mean it is limited to small golf courses. Course size and fleet numbers only tell part of the story. What matters at the wash bay is how many machines are being cleaned simultaneously and how concentrated that activity is during peak periods.
A facility may operate a substantial machinery fleet but return equipment to the maintenance area progressively. If two operators can comfortably move machinery through the wash area without regular queues, the additional station capacity of the 800-2 may offer little practical benefit.
The smaller footprint can also make the 700-2 easier to accommodate when retrofitting an existing shed or wash pad where available space, vehicle movement and service access are already constrained.
View the GSMS 700-2 Twin Station Biological System →
When the GSMS 800-2 becomes more relevant
The GSMS 800-2 is designed for higher wash bay demand. Its ability to support up to four wash stations becomes useful where several operators regularly return equipment at similar times and washing through only one or two points would create a bottleneck.
Its approximately 6,942-litre (1,834 US gallon) operating capacity is nearly three times that of the 700 Series, and the larger biological treatment and separator areas provide greater capacity within the overall treatment system.
That additional scale comes with a larger footprint. At approximately 4.73 metres long and 1.54 metres wide, compared with around 3.37 metres by 1.24 metres for the 700-2, the equipment itself needs more room. Adequate space should also be allowed for inspection, servicing, sludge handling and safe movement around the installation.
The 800-2 can also make sense where a maintenance facility is being redesigned with future growth in mind. If additional wash points are likely to be needed as the fleet, staffing or operating schedule changes, allowing for that capacity during the initial facility design can avoid unnecessary constraints later.
View the GSMS 800-2 Quad Station Biological System →
Fleet size is not the only number that matters
When comparing systems, it is easy to use fleet size as the main sizing measure. In practice, peak wash activity is often more useful.
A maintenance team assessing a new wash water system should consider how many machines typically arrive at the wash area together, how many operators need a hose at the same time and whether the wash bay regularly becomes a bottleneck at the end of mowing or maintenance operations.
Available space is another factor. Drainage, clipping separation, plumbing, electrical supply, machinery access and maintenance clearance all have to work around the treatment equipment. A larger unit only makes sense if the overall facility can use that additional capacity effectively.
Local environmental and wastewater requirements should also form part of the design process. Closed-loop treatment can reduce fresh water demand and contaminated discharge, but the complete wash area still needs to be planned around the conditions and regulatory requirements applying to the individual site.
Which system suits your facility?
For a facility where two wash stations comfortably handle normal machinery traffic, the GSMS 700-2 provides the more compact option, with approximately 2,355 litres (622 US gallons) of operating capacity.
Where several machines need to be washed concurrently, the GSMS 800-2 adds capacity for up to four wash stations and increases operating capacity to approximately 6,942 litres (1,834 US gallons).
Neither model is automatically the better choice. The useful question is how much wash capacity the facility actually needs during its busiest periods, and how that requirement fits within the available maintenance area.
CCI supplies ESD Waste2Water systems in Australia and works with golf facilities on wash water management and maintenance facility requirements. Assessing wash traffic, existing infrastructure and future needs before selecting the treatment unit can help ensure the complete wash area is appropriately sized.
