The Best Alternative
The best way to minimize the environmental effects of washing your car at home is to use a commercial car wash facility . Commercial carwash facilities are required to treat their wash water discharge before releasing it to the sanitary sewer system where the water is treated prior to release back into our water sources . Some facilities even recycle their wash water — reusing it several times before sending it to the sanitary sewer and water treatment facilities . Changing the way you wash your car is something that you can do to make a difference in the quality of our water sources . Proper individual actions can result in significant water quality improvement when carried out by the majority . The individual citizen can easily and economically manage this source of stormwater pollution .
Car Washing Tips
Use a commercial car wash facility where wash water is treated and cleaned before it is returned to our waterways .
If you do wash your car at home :
�� Wash it on gravel , grass , or other permeable surfaces . Avoid washing on concrete or asphalt unless it drains into a vegetated area .
�� Use plain water with a coarse sponge or , phosphate-free , water-based cleaners only .
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Use a trigger nozzle on your hose or a bucket to conserve water .
�� Always empty wash buckets into sinks or toilets , never into the street or storm drain .
STORMWATER FACT : Most car washing best management practices are inexpensive , and rely more on good housekeeping practices ( where vehicles are washed , planning for the collection of wash water ) than on expensive technology .
Key Terms : SEDIMENT : Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid . Sedimentation is the deposition by settling of a suspended material .
PERMEABLE : PENETRABLE ; having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through ; porous ; pervious . COMMERCIAL CARWASH FACILITY : A place or business equipped for washing cars and other motor vehicles .
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