Water Quality/ Storm water Tip:
Car Washing
When you wash your car in your driveway or on the street, pollutants in the wash water such as detergents, oil, gas, road grime and heavy metals make their way into the storm drainage system. The wash water and pollutants are then carried by the storm drainage system and discharged directly into our waterways. These pollutants are toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
The following practices can help protect and enhance the water quality of our creeks and lakes:
· Take your car to a commercial car wash. Most commercial car wash facilities recycle the wash water or are connected to the sanitary sewer system that will treat the used wash water.
· Wash your car on a grass or gravel surface to allow the runoff to infiltrate
· Consider using environmentally-friendly products labeled “non-toxic”, “phosphate free” and “biodegradable.”
