A request to allow a new car wash to tap into the sanitary sewer system led to a discussion by Hermitage Municipal Authority of the use of recycled water.

Jerry Calvert wants to demolish a house at 3990 E. State St. and build a two-stall car wash.

The car wash would use 2,600 gallons of water, which is about four equivalent dwelling units.

Most of the city is under a 150-EDU limit of new tap-ins to the sanitary sewer system. Commission member Eric Graven said car washes using recycled water could save the city some EDUs.

He said car washes in other parts of the country use recycled water and he believed it to be effective.

"My car got clean," he said Wednesday.

Consulting engineer Joe Pacchioni said car washes in this area generally do not favor using recycled water because of negative public perception and cost.

"We still have a lot of cheap water from the water company," he said. "It's still cheaper to buy the water."

The city could adopt an ordinance requiring car washes to use recycled water, officials said.

The commission approved Calvert's request for planning purposes. He will have to install equipment to remove grit from water before it can be released into the sanitary sewer system.