Car Washing

Think twice before washing in your driveway


Vehicle wash water contains pollutants like oil, grease, heavy metals, solvents and soaps. When these harmful pollutants run off our driveways and roads, they go down the storm drain and travel to our local streams, lakes, and Puget Sound - untreated. Even biodegradable soap pollutes! 

Car going through a commercial wash

Commercial car wash (JPG)
Over 2,000,000 gallons of contaminated car wash runoff flows into our streams each year.

Use a commercial car wash


Pledge to reduce pollution in our streams by using a commercial car wash. 

Can't use a commercial car wash facility?


  • Wash on your lawn or graveled area so the soil can soak up the water and break down the pollutants
  • Try using a waterless car wash product
  • Save money by hand-washing your vehicle in a commercial car wash bay
  • Always divert the wash water away from the street and storm drains

Hosting a fundraiser?


Car washes are popular fundraisers, but we've got some suggestions for environmentally-friendly fundraisers. 
CarWashingYesBMPs

More information about car washing

  1. Car Washing 101 - What you should know (PDF)
  2. 10 Facts about Car Washing (PDF)
  3. Assessment of Car Wash Run Off Treatment Using Bioretention Mesocosms (PDF)
  4. Car Wash Impact Model (PDF)
  5. Fish Toxicity Report (PDF)
  6. Mobile Car Wash Study Final Report (PDF)
  7. Residential Car Wash Water Monitoring Study (PDF)
  8. Vehicle and Equipment Washwater Discharges Best Practices (PDF)