Keeping it Clean While Washing Your Car | Environment

Here's something many of us may not think about when we go out to our driveways to hose down and wash our vehicles.  Many curb side drains run across our pavement, into the storm sewers and ends up in our nearby lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

With that said, there is no problem with washing your car.  It is just where and how you do it. The wash water contains contaminates such as oil, grease, metals, detergents, and phosphorous that are either harmful to fish or cause excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae.

The best way to avoid these contaminates from getting into our water is to take your car to a commercial car wash. At commercial car washes, the wash water is sent to the sanitary sewer and treated to remove pollutants.

Here are some suggestions if you like washing your own car, or are involved in car wash fund raisers:

• Choose a biodegradable and phosphate-free soap and use it sparingly. Most stores carry at least one phosphate-free and biodegradable car wash product; take the time to look at labels. Or try washing without soap.
• Wash your car on gravel or other pervious surface that can soak up wash water. Washing cars on grass is an option, but runs the danger of compacting soil and damaging tree roots.
• Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
• Pour your bucket of wash water onto the lawn or down the sink when you're done, not on the driveway or street.

Remember, keeping it clean means more than our property but our environment surrounding us.