Washington State to Ban Home Car Washing?
Car wash owners in Clark County, Washington may be looking at a large boost in revenue courtesy of the state government, as the powers that be are considering a law that would make washing one’s car a home a punishable offense.
The Oregonian recently published an article reporting that state officials are looking into a plan that would ask Clark County to control what water flows into storm drains, including a potential ban on the sudsy byproduct of at home auto washing. The argument is that the soap and chemicals used to wash cars too often finds its way into the lakes, streams, and other waterways of the land, adding significantly to the pollution of those natural features.
Washington state Department of Ecology employee Bill Moore said, "We want people to make the connection of 'what goes on the street goes into the creek.’”
While Ecology Dept. officials maintain that Clark county offers more than sufficient access to commercial carwashes – which are mandated to contain and treat their wastewater – the many opponents of the measure say that it’s unreasonable to expect citizens to simply stop washing their cars at home.
Said Brian Carlson, Vancouver, Washington’s director of public works, "Banning people from washing their cars and boats -- how realistic is that?"
Comments
BobG999999
And what are you supposed to do if you don't want that kind of equipment touching your car? Even if it's just a spray, it's a very high pressure spray. I'm all for the environment, but as different sources of pollution are cleaned up, the eco-freaks keep moving on to the next lower level source, no matter how insignificant it may be. And politicians jump on board to promote the "green" credentials (I sure hope they're all driving Priii!).
I sure hope this one doesn't go into effect as I'm about to move there temporarily and I want to be able to properly wash my car.
DR Bush
Luckily, I live in Snohomish County(North of Seattle), so this wouldn't affect me. However, I don't believe this law will actually be implemented, and if it is, I doubt it'll be enforced. I agree with Bob(above), in that I would not let any pressure washers or brushes touch my car. I only use hose-nozzle pressure and my own washing materials.
"I have the fastest car in my entire garage"
Mena
If that happened here, I would stop washing my car altogether. Car washes are NOT good for your paint. Not to mention, they never really do a good job of cleaning your car anyways. And what about the portable detailing businesses that would lose business over this?
87ninefiveone
I don't think many portable detailers would loose much business. A lot of them collect their own runoff already with dike/vac systems. It may however hurt the little guy who does it on a semi-professional bassis and can't afford a couple grand to collect his gray water.
Michigan Volkswagen Enthusiast (www.michiganvw.org/forum)
mccraemcaulay
The government is never concerned with such things as the paint work or body of your car, they're just interested in tax, I wonder how much more tax Washington state is going to get out of the increase in business at the car washes. They may be using the environment as a cover, but I reckon it's dollar signs they're seeing, not a greener land and clearer streams.
Anonymous
Closer and closer to communisim, except people in china can wash their cars at home.
The more rules we give ourselves, the less we can do.
Anonymous
If you don't like it why don't you just move to China.
Anonymous
Yea, the lakes in China are so polluted you can walk on them.
Anonymous
I thought this was America! - southpark reference.
OregonMan
There are options to traditional car washing. I use a new product called EcoShine on my vehicles, and it not only saves on water, but it keeps my car cleaner longer by ionizing the surface. Dust and dirt slide right off.
Again, the product is called EcoShine, and is currently beginning to take
off here in Oregon. And since there is absolutely no water used in
the application, runoff into rivers and streams is eliminated
completely.
It's also 100% safe for the environment. I've been told you could
drink the stuff and it wouldn't hurt you. I haven't tried, if you
were going to ask.
Check it out at www.ecoshineonline.com
Sandy
A lot of us already wash our cars in ways that prevent water pollution. Not that long ago, we used to dump used motor oil down the storm drain -- now we know better. We at the Department of Ecology are working closely with cities and counties and with individual citizens – with patience and persistence – to provide needed information about the unintended and often hidden impacts of pollutants like soap, oils, grease and metals. We have many alternatives that allow us to keep our vehicles clean and still protect our rivers, lakes, and streams.
While the state’s stormwater regulations don’t allow soap and detergents to enter a storm drain, we urge local governments to also take a public education approach about proper car washing through education, not through tickets, fines or other penalties.
We have found that most people want to do the right thing for the environment -- they just don’t always know what that is. You can find out more about residential car washing and why it matters by visiting Ecology’s website at www.ecy.wa.gov and looking under “Spotlight.”
Sandy Howard
Communications Manager
Water Quality & Environmental Assessment Programs
Washington Department of Ecology
office: 360-407-6408
Joseph Dunley
How can you attempt to punish the very people that pay your salary without giving them an alternative?
How about pressing the companies that produce the soaps.
Government is supposed to be about leadership. So LEAD!!!
OLDFAHT
Pull the thing onto the lawn to wash it...the phosphates are a fertilizer, and the soil is a great filtration system!
Anonymous
Why not consider having companies manufacture biodegradable products and ban harmful products from the market place.
Anonymous
I do live in Clark County, WA and this is unbelievable, but not entirely unexpected from the idiots in politics in this area. The real issue is punishing people who drive and making it more difficult for them each and every day. The environment just happens to be the stick that they can use to beat us. It's really about control over our lives.
pwaug
I guess everyone will have to switch to Optimum No Rinse car wash--only need two gallons to do an entire car and it doesn't marr the finish.
andre
This is another theif on consumers and citizens, another restriction on car use like high gas price. Showers generate soap in the drains and its a normal situation, so soap for cars one in a while shoud't add-up too much. In my owners manual they say to wash the car regurlarly to prevent rust.
CleanCar Fanatic
I think that the eco-nazis in Clark County should look at the amount of grease and oil leaking from unmaintained cars and trucks that end up in the storm drains tahn worrying about home car wash runoff. Those who care for their vehicles wash them and maintain them properly.
I see the profe$$ional car wa$h indu$try put a few buck in the lobbyi$t$ pocket$ to get this hor$e$*** passed..
Eco-motor-freak-head
I am an eco-freak but dang it the government can't tell me what I can do on my own personal property! If they don't want soap draining into the rivers and lakes, then it sounds like the storm systems are in need of updating, not blaming the taxpayers.
Thankfully I live in PA. the government is too screwed up here to get a full head of steam behind any real eco-legislation. And they would never do something like this for risk of losing the next election.
I used to like Oregon....
Daniel
Hey there, it's Washington, not Oregon... it was just reported in the Oregonian as Clark county is just north of us across the border.
Speed Racer
I believe the PC madness has just about run it's course in this Country. A couple of more idiotic issues like this will put most of the "silent majority" over the top! Most level headed folks I know are just about ready to throw out every liberal they can find because they don't make good sense anymore.
Jon Kepler
I don't think there's any way this would pass, but if it did, I'd be interested in seeing how many people would willingly pay the fine.
Edis
Such law already exist in Europe. For a long time.
Bard Thomas
Europe is a continent, Edis, with many countries, some 40 I think. I'm from one of them, but haven't heard of a single one that bans home car washing! Some charge you for the water, but they don't ban car washing. That would abe a contradiction in terms really, for the gready bastards who call theselves politicians!
Anonymous
This is the most stupid thing I have heard of yet! And I thought Calif. was bad.
Overcast
I would suspect that wastes a LOT more water than a home wash. And considering most people just use dish soap to wash the car, it's nothing that's not already going into the sanitation system.
Personally, my driveway will drain to my side yard, not even into a public stormwater sewer, so I'd suspect that's even better and the dish soap never kills my grass.
But sure, I guess it's better to use these chemical cocktail's at the car wash and 10 times the amount of water - that makes good 'Eco' sense.
I think this coins a new term "Eco-BS"
William Burlingham
I think what they should ban is people driving crappy cars that leak oil, gas, and coolant. I'm sure that those things contribute a lot more to the polution than people that actually care about their vehicles and want it to look good. Besides even if you go to a car wash it will either scratch your car or it will do a crappy job and you will have to do it again.
Anonymous
The politicians are what is polluting that area
Richard
Don't politions have better things to do, like figuring out how to fix the budget short fall? Are we becomming a socialistic country, with the government controling another thing we do. This is ridiculous! Why don't they look into environment friendly car wash soap rather than banning home car washing. It sounds like the only one this will benifits is Brown Bear or and other car wash company..
Anonymous
What about the home bath? Does the soap from our baths not go down the drains too? What about banning clothes washers & dishwashers also. I gues we can line the bed of our pick ups with dirty dishes and laundry while we get the car/truck washed.
Anonymous
This is reality for a lot of people in the world. We take much too much for granted.
Anonymous
The State should be careful at what they are trying to prohibit. They should look into the water sprinklers for businesses or the ones maintained by WTA that water the center dividing islands that have trees, plants and grass. Watering is necessary to keep a nice appearance, but what about those broken sprinklers that end up watering the street? The extra runoff that hits the street will end up going into those very same rivers and waterways, which will also carry with it very same fish killing contaminents that it picks up from America's car and truck drivers, yes OIL. Instead, have the government apply regulations that demand GREEN or BIO degradable ingredients to the consumers car wash liquids. Remember, the car wash is only going to scrub off what ever lands on the car from the air. The sprinklers are going to carry more junk than anything else into the sewers and lakes.
propecia
this is still the united states right? k, just wanted to make sure because i thought we were some radical religious country that punishes people for stuff like this.
Doug Rosbury
Why not just mandate a safer way to wash cars at home with a solution that is safe for streams and rivers?
----------Doug Rosbury
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Banning people from washing their cars and boats Oyunlar | Oyun how realistic is that?
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I don't believe this law will actually be implemented, and if it is, I doubt it'll be enforced. I agree with Bob(above), in that I would not let any pressure washers or brushes touch my car i like to wash my car and love it but i would do that now after my next upcoming exam after few days N10-003 CompTIA certification exam about which I'm fully prepared by getting good guideline from Real Exam Questions which are providing best guide line and 100% grantee to pass exam like 70-649for Upgrading MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 and you can pass your70-647 Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator exams with high score and in first attempt as well as your page concern i would say i see really nice discussion on it it could be nice for some people to impose that law but its not for me.
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The real issue is punishing people who drive and making it more difficult for them each and every day. The environment just happens to be the stick that they can use to beat us. It's really about control over our lives.
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