Car Maintenance with Water Quality in Mind

Washing your Car
When you wash your car, all the soap, scum, and oily grit runs along the curb, then into a storm drain and directly into a stream or the lake. And that causes pollution which is unhealthy for everyone. So how do you avoid this whole mess? Easy! Wash your car on the grass or gravel instead of the street. Or better yet, take it to a car wash where the water gets treated or recycled.

How can you wash your car and help keep our waters clean?
- Use soap sparingly and use a biodegradable product.
- Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
- Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you’re done,
not in the street. Or wash your car on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally.
- Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car. Most car washes reuse wash water several times before sending it to the sewer system for treatment.

Remember: Oil and Water Don't Mix!
The oil can form a slick that looks bad, slimes the shoreline, poisons amphibians and fish, and the aquatic organisms they depend on for food. A slick can be unhealthy for the people, birds and mammals that eat the poisoned fish and amphibians. Oil films on the surface of water prevent oxygen from diffusing into the water from the air, impair photosynthesis and block sunlight. Keep in mind:

• Service stations accept used motor oil for recycling. If you change your own oil, be sure to dispose of it properly.
• If you notice your car is leaking oil or any other fluid, take it to the shop for repair. Leaks can be washed down a driveway or street into a storm drain and then into a nearby stream.