Mobile Wash Containment Systems for Trucks, Fleets, and Equipment

Every pressure wash sends dirt, oil, grease, fuel residue, and detergent across the ground. On an open lot, that runoff heads straight for the nearest storm drain or ditch. Mobile wash containment catches the water where it lands, so you can wash heavy vehicles and equipment in the field and collect the runoff for proper disposal instead of releasing it to the environment.

Semi-Truck, Boat, and Military Washing Station Spill Prevention

Fleet maintenance managers wash trucks, trailers, boats, and military vehicles on a schedule, and the dirtier the work, the more often it happens. Each wash removes contaminants the vehicle picked up in the field. Without fleet washing spill containment in place, those contaminants move with the water into storm systems, streams, and soil. The numbers add up fast. An EPA stormwater guide cites a Washington city study that found vehicle washing contributed an estimated 190 gallons of gasoline, diesel, and motor oil, 2,200 pounds of surfactants, and 3,000 pounds of solids in a single year. Even a rinse with hot water and no detergent carries oil and grit off the vehicle and onto the ground.

Mobile Water Containment for Truck, Boat, and Military Wash Water

The EPA’s best management practice for municipal vehicle and equipment washing is direct: avoid discharging wash water to the storm drain system. For mobile jobs, it recommends a bermed wash area with the water captured by a wet/dry vacuum or vacuum truck, then discharged to a sanitary sewer with the sewer authority’s permission. A portable wash pad containment system gives you that bermed wash area anywhere you need it. Build these steps into your standard operating procedures:

Set the containment pad on a level surface before washing begins
Pull the vehicle fully onto the pad so all spray and runoff stays inside the walls
Collect captured water through the pad’s drain ports or with a vacuum
Dispose of wash water according to your local sewer authority and stormwater permit

Planning ahead keeps pressure washing on schedule and avoids cleanup and remediation costs later. For facility-wide stormwater planning, see our guide to SWPPP stormwater pollution prevention plans.

CAMEL Tri-Star® Portable Wash Pad Containment

The CAMEL Tri-Star® is a drive-on modular containment system that doubles as a heavy-duty wash pad for trucks and equipment. Its tri-linear walls use a steel plate welded at a 45-degree angle and reinforced with steel gussets, laminated in corrosion-resistant fiberglass and resin. If a driver catches a wall while pulling on or off the pad, the wall is built to take it without damage. Tri-Star MAX sections measure 13 feet wide by 7 feet long with a 9-inch outside wall, and they slip-fit end to end in 7-foot increments. That lets you size the wash bay to your longest truck and trailer, then add sections as the fleet grows. For operations that move often, the Tri-Star OPS one-piece system is a 12-foot by 40-foot by 10-inch portable containment berm. It sets up as a single unit for large vehicles and equipment.

Advantages of Polystar Mobile Wash Containment

Vehicle washing containment mats work for light vehicles and short jobs. Heavy trucks, tracked equipment, and daily wash schedules call for a rigid system that will not tear, shift, or wear through. Polystar mobile wash containment gives your crew:

A drive-on surface that handles loaded trucks and heavy equipment
Fiberglass and steel construction built for constant water exposure
Threaded drain ports for controlled removal of captured wash water
Modular sizing that matches your largest vehicle
Setup on existing pavement or level ground with no excavation
The ability to move the wash area between yards, job sites, and bases

Polystar’s Containment Pad™ also works as a water reclamation pad for smaller vehicles and equipment. Its drain ports accept ball valves or passive shutoff filters, which let clean water drain but close the port if hydrocarbons are released. Need help choosing the right portable wash pad containment system for your fleet? Contact us to talk through your vehicles and site.

Additional Resources For Our Spill Containment Pad

Wash water is one of many liquids Polystar helps contain. These resources cover related products and stormwater planning:

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile Wash Containment

Can vehicle wash water go into a storm drain?

The EPA advises against discharging vehicle wash water to storm drain systems. Captured wash water typically goes to a sanitary sewer with the sewer authority’s permission, or it is hauled off by a vacuum truck. Check your local stormwater and sewer rules before you wash.

How do you remove water from a wash containment pad?

Polystar pads include threaded drain ports, so captured water can be released to a collection system or pumped out. Many crews also use a wet/dry vacuum for small jobs and a vacuum truck for larger ones.

Can heavy trucks drive onto a portable wash pad?

Yes. The CAMEL Tri-Star is designed for trucks and trailers to drive onto the pad. Its triangular, steel-reinforced walls resist damage if a tire contacts the wall during entry or exit.

What size wash pad do I need?

Size the pad to your largest vehicle with room for spray. Tri-Star MAX sections are 13 feet wide and extend in 7-foot increments, and the Tri-Star OPS is a single 12-foot by 40-foot unit. Containment Pads can be built in custom sizes.

Request a Quote for Mobile Wash Containment

Keep wash water out of storm drains and keep your fleet on schedule. Polystar designs and manufactures mobile wash containment in the USA for trucking companies, municipalities, military bases, and equipment operators. Request a quote for a wash pad sized to your vehicles.