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Lake Protection
All the soap, scum, and oily grit runs along the curb. Then
into the storm drain and directly into our lakes, rivers and streams. And
that causes pollution which is unhealthy for fish.
The problem with car washing.
There's no problem with washing your car. It's just how and where you do it.
The average driveway car wash uses 116 gallons of water! Most commercial car
washes uses 60% less water in the entire washing process than a simple home
wash uses just to rinse off a car. Most soap contains phosphates and other
chemicals that harm fish and water quality. Then soap, together with dirt
and oil washed from your car, flows into nearby storm drains which run directly
into lakes, rivers or marine waters. The phosphates from the soap can cause
excess algae to grow. Algae look bad, smell bad and harm water quality. As
algae decays, it uses up oxygen in the water that fish and other wildlife
need.
What You can do to HELP ! ~ Clean Water
Tips.
1. Use soap sparingly when washing your
car. Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
2. Best of all, take your car to a commercial
car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your
car. Most car washes reuse wash water several times before sending it to the
sewer system for treatment.
Clean water is important to all of us.
It's up to all of us to make it happen. In recent years sources of water pollution
like industrial wastes from factories have been greatly reduced. Now, more
than 60 percent of water pollution comes from things like cars leaking oil,
fertilizers from farms and gardens and failing septic tanks. All these sources
add up to a big pollution problem. But each of us can do small things to help
clean up our water too-and that adds up to a pollution solution!
Why do we need clean water?
Having clean water is of primary importance for our health and economy. Clean
water provides recreation, commercial opportunities, fish habitat, drinking
water and adds beauty to our landscape. All of us benefit from clean water-and
all of us have a role in getting and keeping our lakes, rivers, marine and
ground waters clean.
This information is brought to you by the Department of Environmental Protection.
To find more ways of how you can help, check out the:
EPA’s Citizen Action Page -- http://www.epa.gov/ow/citizen/thingstodo.html
EPA’s NPS Do’s and Don’ts -- http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/nps/dosdont.html
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