Make a Difference; Hang Up Your Hose
Did you know that getting your vehicle cleaned at a commercial car wash like Harv’s is actually better for the environment? Though it is a popular and common American tradition, research has shown that washing your car in your driveway at home has devastating effects on our environment.
Water runoff from “at home” car washing contains toxic elements from:
- Brake linings
- Motor oil
- Lawn fertilizer
- And the contaminant list continues…
Additional harmful elements, reminiscent of your last chemistry class, include:
All of these toxins empty directly into the nearest body of water since storm drains are not part of the wastewater system. As a result, storm water runoff is the most common source of pollution for streams, lakes, oceans and inlets—often having devastating effects on aquatic life and impacting recreational swimming areas. In addition to polluting our waterways, just rinsing your car at home typically consumes 40% more water than most commercial car washes use in the entire washing process. It’s no wonder the Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the public use commercial car washes.