EDITOR'S NOTE: OrilliaMatters is partnering with Sustainable Orillia to publish a weekly energy tip. Check back here every Tuesday evening for a new tip. For more information, visit the Sustainable Orillia website.
Many car owners wash their cars at home. The result is soapy, dirty water flowing down driveways, into streets and into storm water sewers that lead directly to creeks, streams, rivers and lakes.
The unfiltered run-off from washing your car at home sends grease, gasoline, oil, exhaust residue, bits of rubber, and road tar into waterways, harming fish and other wildlife.
This, folks, is pollution!
Even the detergent you use might be harmful, especially if it contains phosphates. Phosphates, also used in fertilizers, affect rivers and lakes because they encourage the growth of algae, a process that robs the water of oxygen needed by other wildlife. Even biodegradable detergents can damage gills and destroy the external mucus layers that protect fish from bacteria and parasites.
Home car washing is also wasteful. Washing a car at home uses an average of 116 gallons of water. The entire car wash process uses 60 percent less water than a homeowner uses just to rinse the car. In addition, most commercial car washes reuse wash water several times before sending it to a treatment plant
If you must wash your car at home:
- Use phosphate-free, water-based cleaners
- Use a spray gun with flow restriction to minimize water use.
- Wash in an area that absorbs water, such as grass or gravel.
- Always empty wash buckets into sinks or toilets.
However, the best way to minimize the effect that washing your car has on the environment is to use a commercial car wash. Doing so is simply a more environmentally friendly way of caring for your vehicle.
