Washing your car at home can be satisfying and may save you money. However, if you aren’t careful all that grime, oil, and soap goes straight into the storm drain. Unlike the water from sinks and toilets, stormwater is not treated before entering local waterways. Storm drains flow directly to retention basins, greenbelt areas, parks and lakes within the community.
Best
Use a commercial car wash whenever possible. Commercial car washes discharge to the sanitary sewer system and often use oil/water separators and water recycling systems to help prevent pollutants from entering storm drains and local waterways.
Good
If you wash your car at home, follow these tips to help prevent stormwater pollution:
- Wash your car on gravel, grass or other permeable surfaces.
- Use ecofriendly, biodegradable, phosphate free car cleaning products.
- Use a bucket and spray nozzle to help conserve water.
- Use a runoff barrier to keep wash water from going into the city right of way and storm drain.
- Dispose of bucket water in a sink, tub or other sanitary sewer connection.
- Avoid washing underneath the vehicle, where oil and grease may collect.
- Do not wash heavily soiled or leaking vehicles at home.