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Keep Water Safe & Clean
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Restore Our Waters
The Problem with Car Washing
When a car is washed on a paved surface, like in a driveway or in a parking lot, the soap, detergent, automotive fluids, oil, and roadway dirt that gets rinsed from the vehicle goes straight into nearby storm drains. These storm drains lead directly to lakes, streams, and bodies of water in the Puget Sound area. This contaminated runoff, even runoff containing biodegradable soap, can cause significant harm to aquatic plant life, fish, and other animals. In short, something as seemingly harmless as a car wash can cause serious damage to local water quality.
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How can you wash your car and help keep our waters clean?
Residential Car Washing:
- • The best option is to take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car. Most carwashes reuse wash water several times before sending it to the sewer system for treatment.
- • Use soap sparingly. Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
- • Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you're done, not in the street. Or wash your car on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally.
Charity Car Washes:
To prevent water quality from going down the drain in Puget Sound, local car washes are advised to use simple and effective car wash kits.
How do they work?
Car wash kits work by redirecting polluted water, full of soap, grime, and oil, away from the storm drain and into a hose that connects to a toilet, sink, or drain on site. Toilets and sinks send the dirty water to a water treatment plant, where these pollutants are processed and safety removed from the water.
Why Use a Car Wash Kit?
1. They help the environment by redirecting polluted water to a water treatment facility.
2. They cost little to no money and are simple to use.
3. They're free and easy for local business to obtain and easy for community organizations to use.
Seattle businesses or charities hosting car washes can borrow these kits easily from a number of locations:
Camp Long Environmental Learning Center (kit courtesy of King County)
206-684-7434
Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center (kit courtesy of King County)
206-684-0877
Ballard High School Proyecto Saber Club
206-252-1054
Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS)
206-767-0432
City of Seattle/Seattle Public Utilities
206-684-7988
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
206-684-7534
Roosevelt High School
206-525-4916
Samoan Community Church
206-772-0703
For onsite assistance, call the City of Seattle's Resource Venture hotline at (206) 343-8505 or email them at help@resourceventure.org.
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