Waterway-friendly wash
Caring for cars and water sources at the same time: How to wash your vehicle, not the storm drain
Springtime in Hampton Roads means pollen — lots of pollen. The yellow dust covers every outdoor surface, most noticeably, cars. This nuisance may mean washing your car more frequently, or perhaps your organization is capitalizing on the mess by holding a car wash fundraiser.
Like many daily activities, car washing can harm local waterways if not done properly. Here is what you need to know to get your car sparkling clean without polluting nearby water sources.
When we wash cars at home on a paved surface, such as a driveway or the street, the cleaning chemicals, motor oil, grease and dirt run off directly into storm drains. Storm drains lead straight to local rivers and streams without any treatment. Today’s grimy car might be tomorrow’s grimy river.
The most waterway-friendly way to wash cars is also the easiest: Visit a commercial car wash. Commercial car washes collect dirty wash water and send it to a water treatment plant instead of a storm drain. This prevents dirt, cleaning products, automotive fluids and other pollutants from entering waterways. That is what we like to call working smarter, not harder.
If you are a committed do-it-yourselfer, know there are still ways to reduce the impact on waterways:
■ Wash the car on gravel or grass, which gives the dirty wash water a chance to filter naturally into the ground instead of running directly into the storm drain.
■ Use a hose nozzle to restrict water flow and use less water — and cut your water bill.
■ Never leave the hose running on the ground while you wash.
■ Check the car wash soap to make sure it is non-phosphate and non-toxic, then use only what is recommended on the label.
■ When done, dump the soapy water down a utility sink or toilet, not on the ground or into storm drains.
If your group or organization has a car was fundraiser in mind, consider this: it is easier on the environment (and you, too) to sell commercial car wash coupons instead. There is no worry about rain cancellations, and your supporters can use the coupons at their convenience.
If you have your heart set on the sweat equity of an in-person car wash, askHRgreen.org has a no-cost solution: a free fundraiser car wash kit, available to check out. It includes drain mats, hoses and a water pump. When assembled, it redirects dirty wash water into a grassy area; the water can soak into the ground and away from storm drains.
Everyone benefits from clean waterways. And who doesn’t like a little extra time to enjoy the bay, lake or beach instead of laboring to wash the car?
Katie Cullipher and Rebekah Eastep are team leaders of the askHRgreen.org public awareness and education campaign for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. For more ways to make an environmental difference in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.