Washing your car at home sends pollutants from your car (oil, grease, fuel, heavy metals, nutrients, etc.) into our storm drains and directly into our rivers, lakes and wetlands. We also have a code in Bothell that makes it against the law to discharge any pollutants into the public drainage system (BMC 18.04.260). These pollutants include the soap and chemicals that are used to clean your vehicle - even biodegradable soaps. It's most eco-friendly to use a commercial car wash, a waterless car wash product, or divert your wash water to a permeable surface like grass or gravel.
Learn more about car washing.