Dirt is washed off of your car and can flow directly into storm drains and our waterways.

Try washing your vehicle on the grass. The grass will help filter the dirt. Better yet, bring your car to the carwash! The carwash drains to the sanitary sewer so the wash water is treated!

Oils and other chemicals are washed off of your car and will flow right into storm drains and our waterways.

Try washing your vehicle on the grass. The grass will help filter the oil. Better yet, bring your car to the carwash! The carwash drains to the sanitary sewer so the wash water is treated!

Heavy metals come from your brakes and are washed off of your car and will flow into storm drains and our waterways.

Common metals from your vehicle:

• Lead - tire wear, lubricating oil and grease
• Zinc - tire wear, brakes, corrosion of galvanized part
• Iron - auto body rust, engine parts
• Copper - engine parts, brake emissions
• Cadmium - tire wear, batteries
• Chromium - air conditioning coolants, engine parts, brake emissions
• Nickel - diesel fuel and gasoline, lubricating oil, brake emissions
• Aluminum - auto body corrosion

All detergents, even environmentally friendly or biodegradable detergents, are considered pollutants and will flow untreated into our storm drains and our waterways.

Try washing your vehicle on the grass. The grass will help filter the soap and other items washed off your vehicle. Try using less soap and water. Better yet, bring your car to the carwash! The carwash drains to the sanitary sewer so the wash water is treated!