Wash your vehicle at a commercial car wash

How does this action
help our Lagoon?

Instead of washing your car in your driveway, take it to a car wash. Commercial car washes are required to properly dispose of wastewater and many will filter and recycle their water. Whereas soap suds and water run-off from vehicle washing on driveways, parking lots and streets typically flows along the gutter and into a storm drain before it empties into a water body.

Washing a car produces a mix of pollutants including oils, grease, heavy metals, particulates from vehicle exhaust emissions and brake linings and rust. Soap may introduce phenols, dyes, acids and ammonia. And even more potentially harmful ingredients are found in spray-off tire cleaners. All of this ‘dirt’ from washing vehicles produces nutrients. More specifically, algae-feeding nutrients that have a negative effect on lagoon health if not filtered before flowing into a storm drain.

If you must wash your car at home, make sure to wash over grass where it will filter through the ground before reaching a water body. Earn Lagoon Loyal points for purchasing biodegradable vehicle wash!