The next time you are in need of a car wash, think about where you go to get one! Washing your car in your driveway can actually be harmful to the environment. As you wash your car, soaps, detergents, residue from exhaust fumes, gasoline, heavy metals from rust, and motor oil all flow directly into storm drains, eventually leading to the nearest creek or stream. These pollutants can harm water quality and wildlife..
Finding a local car wash facility is the best way to wash your car, because the water is drained into a sanitary system or a water recycling unit. Commercial car washes are required to dispose of their wastewater properly, so by choosing to wash your car at a commercial place, you are doing your part for the environment. If you do choose to wash your car at home, be sure to wash your car in an area where water will not go directly into a storm drain and don’t pour dirty wash water down the storm drain.