The Woodbury City Council approved a full-service car wash east of Walmart at 10430 Hudson Road at its Aug. 14 meeting.

Woodbury faces water challenges because “forever chemicals” – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – were found to have contaminated several city wells. The city is treating that well water to federal standards with temporary facilities while a water treatment plant is being built.

4SD worked with city staff to boost the amount of water the car wash would reclaim from 58 percent to 74 percent, which was noted as high for the industry.

The Public Works Department says the projected 2.27 million gallons of water the car wash would use annually would “not negatively impact the availability” of water for the city. The peak period for car washes is November to May, which is off-peak for watering lawns.

Council member Kim Wilson was the lone vote against the project, saying the optics were “crazy” to approve a new business that would require so much water when the city is managing its growth and urging residents to conserve. But council member Andrea Date said the car wash could reduce the city’s water use because it will be far more efficient than people washing cars at home.

Traffic flow on the site was reworked after concerns were raised by the planning commission.