Did you know that car washing is
environmentally damaging?

Why is Car Washing Damaging to the Environment?

	Wash water contains dirt, road grime, oil and grease, heavy metals, and soaps, which can destroy aquatic habitat and the quality of our water.
	Pollutants in car wash water that is discharged to storm drains are not removed and end up in our lakes, rivers, creeks, streams, and other waterways.

How can You Have a Clean Car & Clean Waterways?

	Use a commercial car wash. All wash water is treated (through the sanitary sewer system) and most water is recycled.
	If you wash your car at home, wash it on a grassy or gravel area, where the wash water will soak into the soil and won’t drain directly to a storm drain or local water body.
	Use a flow control device on your hose, such as a hand spray nozzle with an on and off trigger. Less wash water will need to be diverted to a sanitary sewer drain or grassy/gravelly area.
	Letting your car wash water go into a storm drain not only pollutes your lakes and creeks, it's against the law, too (Kirkland Municipal Code Chapter 15.52). Although we try to educate first, you may face fines or penalties for repeat offenses.

All soaps, even biodegradable ones, are toxic to fish. Don’t allow soap to enter storm drains!

CHARITY CAR WASH INFORMATION

City of Kirkland Car Wash Kits

The City of Kirkland has Car Wash Kits available, free of charge, that can be used to keep wash water and contaminants out of local streams and lakes. These kits are easy to use but do not work at all locations. For this reason, we ask you to contact us at least 2 weeks prior to your car wash event.

To ensure that soapy water can be diverted to the sanitary sewer at your site and to check out a Car Wash Kit, please contact Kirkland's Environmental Education & Outreach Specialist or call (425) 587-3858.

Car Wash Tickets

If you belong to a qualifying organization, you can sell tickets redeemable at environmentally friendly, commercial car wash facilities throughout the Puget Sound area. Selling car wash tickets instead of having a parking lot car wash is not only better for the environment, it’s better for your organization.

The Puget Sound Car Wash Association (PSCWA) is a local organization that offers custom-printed car wash tickets to organizations for $2 each. Groups usually resell them at $6 to $8 each. It is easy to participate in this program and the tickets are easy to sell - no sunshine or elbow grease is required.