3,293,182 Gallons: How CITY Puts Water Back to Work

Water is one of the most important resources on the planet, and in many places it is being used faster than nature can replace it. That is exactly the kind of challenge CITY Laundering Co has chosen to help address, one gallon at a time. So far this year, CITY has recycled 3,293,182 gallons of water through its Norchem UltraPure system.

“When I talk to my kids about the business, there’s a real sense of responsibility to contribute to the future. This industry was one of the original recyclers, and our efforts to reuse water and extend the life cycle of our products are a continuation of that legacy,” said Colin Wetlaufer, President of CITY Laundering Co.

“In small towns like ours, being responsible stewards of water resources is vital,” Colin said.

What 3.29 Million Gallons Really Means

To put that figure in perspective, 3,293,182 gallons is enough to fill nearly five Olympic-sized swimming pools, and the year is not over yet. None of that water simply went down a drain. Every gallon was captured, cleaned, and put back to work, which is a meaningful amount of water kept in productive use rather than lost.

How CITY Recycles the Water It Uses

The engine behind that number is CITY’s Norchem UltraPure system. As water moves through the wash process, the system captures it, filters it to a high standard of clarity, and returns roughly 70 percent of it to the cycle to be used again. Water that once did its job a single time now does the work of many, which lowers CITY’s overall draw on the local supply and keeps what does leave the facility clean and manageable.

The Original Recyclers

For CITY, reusing water is not a new initiative bolted on for good press. Commercial laundry has always been a quiet form of recycling. Every uniform, floor mat, shop towel, and linen that CITY launders and returns to a customer is a product kept in service rather than thrown out and replaced. Reusing water is that same principle applied to the resource that makes the entire operation possible, and it is a commitment CITY has carried for generations.

A Commitment Close to Home

As a century-old business rooted in a small Iowa community, CITY sees water stewardship as part of being a good neighbor. The 3,293,182 gallons recycled this year are one clear measure of that commitment, and the number keeps climbing. For CITY, doing more with every gallon is not just good business. It is the responsible way to run one, and a promise the company intends to pass on to the next generation.