You guys in Washington State better wash 'em while you can.

[KaptKaos]

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/washington_may_wipe_out_drivew.html

Washington may wipe out driveway car washing
by Holley Gilbert, The Oregonian
Wednesday September 17, 2008, 10:30 PM

VANCOUVER -- The driveway carwash, a Saturday morning rite of suburbia since -- well, since there have been suburbs -- is under pressure from the state of Washington.

In a pollution-fighting effort already in place in some Puget Sound communities, the state wants most Clark County residents to drop the bucket and shelve the detergent. Why? Because the runoff contains soap, chemicals and oil, and it all ends up in streams, rivers and lakes.

The state has told the county, Vancouver and three other cities to come up with laws to control what water -- other than rain -- goes into storm drains.

"We want people to make the connection of 'what goes on the street goes into the creek,'" said Bill Moore of the state Department of Ecology.

With Clark County's population and the availability of commercial carwashes where dirty water is captured, treated and reused, driveway and street car-washing should stop, he said.

But Brian Carlson, Vancouver's director of public works, had a different perspective: "Banning people from washing their cars and boats -- how realistic is that?"

Vancouver and nearly three dozen other Washington cities have challenged the state edict, which exceeds the federal Clean Water Act by including not just car-washing water but also water from yard sprinklers, among other things, Carlson said.

But the state Pollution Control Hearings Board said last week it intends in an October hearing to uphold the state's ability to exceed federal standards, he said.

Vancouver has not decided how to respond. The city passed an ordinance in early 2003 that permits residential car and boat washing, unless officials find someone's practice is having a "significant environment impact," Carlson said.

Perhaps the city will write that language into its storm water ordinance; perhaps a solution will come from the Legislature; perhaps the coalition of cities will file a lawsuit, he said.

One thing is for sure, Carlson said. "We're not going to be car-washing bureaucrats run amok. We have higher priorities than that."

Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas and Washougal have until August 2009 to adopt ordinances. The requirement does not apply to other, smaller Clark County towns and cities.

Clark County will hold public hearings on a draft storm water ordinance in October or November. The Board of County Commissioners could adopt an ordinance by year's end, said Jim Gladson, a spokesman for Clark County Public Works.

"Are we going to go out and start ticketing people washing their car? No," he said.

Education is the key to help eliminate storm water pollution, the officials agreed. For those who want to keep washing their cars, experts say there are some ways to minimize the environmental impact:

Wash vehicles on gravel or grass where pollutants are filtered by soil and vegetation.

Empty buckets of dirty water down the toilet instead of a street drain, so the water goes through a treatment plant.

Use soap, biodegradable or not, that does not contain phosphorous. Or don't use any soap at all.

-- Holley Gilbert; holleygilbert@news.oregonian.com

[The Gaijin]

With Clark County's population and the availability of commercial carwashes where dirty water is captured, treated and reused, driveway and street car-washing should stop, he said.


Sounds like another lobby is getting its way...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

They'd better ban rain, too. It washes all the crud off the road into the rivers, lakes, and streams...

[HardDrive]

This kind of stuff makes good new stories, but up here cooler heads usually prevail. I love washing my car in the driveway, but I don't think there is anything wrong with brainstorming on ways to prevent run off. There is always going to be dirt/oil run off from the roads, but that doesn't mean its worthless to try and keep phosphorous out of the water system. In fact seeing this has inspired me. I'm going to see if I can find a more 'earth friendly' soap for washing the vehicles.

One thing is for sure, Carlson said. "We're not going to be car-washing bureaucrats run amok. We have higher priorities than that."

It is that kind of common sense attitude that makes it enjoyable to live in WA. Unlike the loons running Kalifornia.

[Seric]

Clark Co., such a King Co. wannabe!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm sure the governments will allow you to install interceptors and/or reclamation systems (at your own cost of course).

[RWebb]

the ultimate solution for stuff flushed off roads as well as car washing is swales that capture and hold the runoff while various vegetation breaks it down. that basically means re-landscaping the whole urban area tho.

this is a huge problem tho -- and i wash my car so it drains into the back yard

[Christien]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

They'd better ban rain, too. It washes all the crud off the road into the rivers, lakes, and streams...

My first thought, too. Why don't they just ban nasty-chemical car wash soaps, so that the soap is biodegradable? All the fluids and chemicals that leak out of cars are going to end up on the ground one way or the other, and rain will wash into the sewers whatever car washing doesn't.

Seriously, if a bunch of guys on a car forum can figure this out, what are the lawmakers talking about in council sessions? The office football pool?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

It is that kind of common sense attitude that makes it enjoyable to live in WA. Unlike the loons running Kalifornia.

In CA it would have passed without argument.

Still, I find it incredibly hard to believe that car-wash runoff is responsible for even a fraction of water supply pollution. In fact, I bet it's waaaay down the list. I mean honestly, how many people even bother to wash their car anymore? As usual though, it's easy to look concerned by going after an easy target, i.e. you.

This is a rule I'd happily disobey every weekend. I'm normally up at around 6 am washing cars on the weekend, probably not many city employees out and about that early.

[Shawn 357]

I wouldn't be surprised to see something like this in San Diego. I can imagine it now...me getting a ticket for washing my car because the runoff can get in the storm drains.....even though we don't have storm drains within 3 miles of my house.

[Porsche-poor]

I used to work with an engineer who during those times of no lawn watering would wash his car every night after work in a different spot on his lawn. So if I can't wash it in the driveway then.....................

[Superman]

One glance at my cars and you will be confident I am not rinsing any of these bad things onto my driveway or anyplace else.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Christien

My first thought, too. Why don't they just ban nasty-chemical car wash soaps, so that the soap is biodegradable? All the fluids and chemicals that leak out of cars are going to end up on the ground one way or the other, and rain will wash into the sewers whatever car washing doesn't.

Seriously, if a bunch of guys on a car forum can figure this out, what are the lawmakers talking about in council sessions? The office football pool?

cuz biodegradable isn't good enough -- i.e. does not degrade quickly enuff

also they usually contain phosphates

i'm sure the p21s chemists are at work tho -- and maybe other co.s

[Britwrench]

Being enviromentally-friendly, I use the rain to wash my car.

On the very (and I mean very) odd occaisions when it needs a wash, there is a do-it-yourself Brown Bear wash about 3 minutes from work.

The Duc I wash at the shop.

[serge944]

Lets just ban soap, chemicals, and oil. Yeah - that will fix the problem.

[Scooter]

When is Washington going to ban rain?

After all, all that rain washes the dirt and grime off the cars and the oils off the roads, directly into those streams, rivers and lakes.



Q: Don't a lot of the detergents used to wash vehicles break up oils?

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Scooter

When is Washington going to ban rain?

After all, all that rain washes the dirt and grime off the cars and the oils off the roads, directly into those streams, rivers and lakes.



Q: Don't a lot of the detergents used to wash vehicles break up oils?

- did you read my post above?