Vehicle Washing

A 1999 survey by the International Carwash Association found that 44.5% of Americans prefer home washing as a method of vehicle care. Furthermore, at least 75% of all cars are washed at home one or more times a year (Mercer 2004).

Car-wash cleaners can destroy the external layers that protect fish from diseases and severely damage their gills. Most fish die when detergent concentrations are near 15 parts per million (ppm); however, detergent concentrations as low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs. Detergents also make other pollutants, such as pesticides, much more easily absorbed by fish. A detergent concentration of only 2 ppm can cause fish to absorb double the amount of chemicals they would normally absorb (Mercer 2004).

All detergents contain a surfactant so that the cleaner rinses off easily with water; some of the most popular types are synthetic phenol-based surfactants. EPA has identified these as being possible endocrine disrupters. Besides the detergent, driveway car-wash discharge can also contain oils, grease and heavy metals.

You may want to select Vehicle Washing as an Action Issue if your citizens frequently wash their vehicles at home and you have a storm sewer system in your jurisdiction. Also consider whether your citizens would be receptive to an educational campaign about vehicle washing.

Target Audiences

• Car owners

Approaches

Educate your citizens to use the carwash if possible. If they insist on washing at home, teach them to park their vehicles on the lawn for washing. Since nearly all adults have a car, you could consider using direct mail to get the message out.

If fundraising carwashes occur in your community, try to find a location for them where the runoff will drain to the sanitary sewer for treatment at the wastewater treatment plant.

Existing Educational Materials

Do not use any materials on this website without first contacting the sponsoring organization and obtaining their permission.

Slogans

• Soap is for Dishes, Not for Fishes (Fort Worth, TX)
• “Take Me Out to the Carwash” (Ottowa, Canada)

Public Involvement

• Take Me Out to the Carwash:  Successful Residential and Community-Based Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention (Stormwater Magazine)

Mass Media: Radio Advertising and PSAs

• Car Wash PSA (City of Wilmington) contact Jennifer Butler at

Mass Media: TV Advertising and PSAs

• Car Wash PSA (NC Cooperative Extension Service)

Public Venues: Events

• Fund Raising Car Washes: Guidelines to Protect Water Quality (Livermore, CA)

Print Materials: Brochures

• Car Care for Cleaner Water (University of WI Cooperative Extension)
• Car Care Tips (County of Los Angeles, CA)

Websites

• Don’t Let Car Washing Hurt Our Environment (Charlotte, NC)
• Detergent is Our Number One Pollutant (Fort Worth, TX)