a storage system;

a debris collection apparatus having a housing containing a series of brushes, said housing comprising a circular cross-section for changing a direction of debris from forward to rearward;

a water pump operable to draw water from the storage system and discharge said water through one or more spray nozzles adjacent to, and directed into, the debris collection apparatus causing said discharged water to force debris into the debris collection apparatus, said debris collection apparatus positioned forward of said one or more spray nozzles with said one or more spray nozzles positioned to discharge water in a forward direction of travel of said surface cleaning system;

a debris conduit extending from near the collection apparatus to the storage container;

a drive means operable to rotatably drive the brushes about a horizontal axis such that collected debris and water is forced from the debris collection apparatus into the debris conduit, said brushes positioned such that said brushes contact an inner surface of the collection debris apparatus and not the ground; and

one or more water spray nozzles and/or air spray nozzles operable to force the collected debris and water through the debris conduit and into the storage system.