Caring for Our Common Home: Water Saving Tips — Car Washing

Summertime brings the fun of washing cars in our own driveways. But, consider this:

• Car washing at home uses much more water (about 100 gallons) than commercial or self service car washes (between 15-60 gallons).
• Chemicals and phosphates in soap, along with dirt and grease from your car flow into storm drains that run directly into rivers and lakes. All of this greatly harms fish and water quality.

Instead, do this:

• Use commercial car wash (uses less water, sometimes recycled water, sends waste water to treatment plants) Touch up at home with just a bucket of water at home if you must.
• Use a self serve car wash (These use the least amount of water because of high pressure hoses with pressure grip turn off.)
  
• If you must wash your car at home, use a bucket with the least amount of soap and don't keep your hose running.