Washing Your Car

Did you know that washing your car in driveway may contribute to water quality degradation I our rivers and lakes? The water used to clean your car carries polluting chemicals (soaps and detergents, heavy metals, solvents, oils and grease) down your driveway, into the local storm drain system and into our streams, rivers and lakes.  Many car wash soaps and detergents can include concentrated levels of phosphorus and harsh cleaning chemicals. Even the “environmentally friendly” or “biodegradable” soaps need a long time to completely biodegrade.

The most eco-friendly way to wash your vehicle is to actually take it into a commercial car washing shop since these facilities are required by law to capture all polluted water used in cleaning. 

At home, follow these tips to greatly reduce the amount of polluted runoff water washing down your driveway.

• Wash you vehicle on your lawn or gravel area so that the dirty water can infiltrate into the soil.
  
  
• Use environmentally safe products that will not harm the environment. Examine the manufacturing label carefully.
  
  
• Do not pour the soapy bucket water in the road but instead dump it on your lawn or in a sink or toilet inside your home.
  
  
• Use low-volume or pressure to reduce over spraying and wasting water.
  
  
• Only use pressure wash when water can be collected and directed to a grassy surface.