In the middle of winter, many of us find ourselves at the local car wash to rinse the grime and salt off our cars. Did you know that washing your car at a commercial car wash has less environmental impact than washing your car in your driveway? You will save more water and minimize the polluted water from washing the car at a commercial car washing facility.

Did you know if you wash your car in your driveway or on the street, the wash water goes straight to the Bow River untreated. Car wash waters contain pollutants from oil and grease, detergents, lead, and trace amounts of other metals such as arsenic, beryllium, and aluminum - all of which are toxic. Plus, you will likely reduce your water use at a commercial car wash particularly if you use the self-serve car wash.

Some styles of carwashes use more fresh water than others do to get your car clean. The following table shows the average amount of water car washes that don't recycle water use per vehicle:

Source: Water Conservation in the Professional Car Wash Industry (2000)

Factors to consider when choosing a commercial car wash:

1. Do you need to wash your car? If so, are you considering limiting the number of times you wash your car?
2. What type of carwash is it? Consider a self-serve car wash rather than an automatic car wash.
3. Does the carwash reclaim and filter wash water for reuse?
4. Is the run-off water prevented from entering the storm sewers?

Water recycling and water treatment by car washes

Improved technology is available to remove soap, chemicals, and sediment from wash water for reuse in the wash cycle. Depending on the type of recycling system, wash water for reuse reduces the amount of fresh water needed by 50-60 percent in bay washes, 5-90 percent in conveyor touch washes, and 20-90 percent in conveyor touchless washes. Ask automatic carwash staff if their system filters and reuses water. Achieving more efficiency and installing water reclamation technologies as part of car washing can also ensure that professional car washes are not shut down during a drought.

Source: City of Calgary

For more information see the City of Calgary's Website.