Did you know…?
When you wash your car in your driveway, the waste water that runs off into storm drains is not treated before it enters waterways such as Junction Creek.
Soaps and other chemicals used to wash cars contain many substances that can harm fish.
The soapy runoff also carries with it oil, grease and other chemicals from your vehicle.
Commercial car wash facilities are required by law to dispose of waste water in the municipal sanitary sewer system (meaning the water is treated at a sewage treatment plant).
Washing your car at home uses, on average, twice as much water as running it through a commercial car wash.
Although "street car washing" is only one of many sources of pollution in Junction Creek, it is one we can do something about.
You can help by:
Taking your car to a commercial car wash, either automatic or self-serve. They are required to dispose of the water in the municipal sanitary sewer system.
Participating in the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee's "Creek-Friendly"
Car Wash program.
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| Volunteers wash a vehicle on a Latimat® Containment Pad. Waste water is collected by sump pump for proper disposal. |
We are partnering with groups who hold fundraising car washes...
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee has purchased a Latimat® Containment pad and other equipment, to allow groups to make their events more environmentally-friendly.
The Latimat® is like an inflatable swimming pool-for vehicles! You drive onto it, the vehicle is washed and a sump pump is used to collect the waste water, which is disposed of in a sanitary system drain.
We launched the Creek-Friendly Car Wash Program in 2007. The equipment is available on loan to groups and staff are available to assist groups in using it. If your group holds car washes and would like to borrow the equipment or if you would like to volunteer to help with the program, please contact us at 525-8736 or info@junctioncreek.com.