Why This is Green

Got a dirty car? Washing it yourself means not having to drive to a car wash and that you’re in charge of what detergents are used, but you might be wasting serious amounts of water. Never fear, WaterSavers to the rescue.

This International Carwash Association (ICA) program helps professional car washes promote environmentally responsible business practices. The program requires members to reclaim or recycle treated water for future wash cycles and discharge wastewater to a sanitary sewer or leech field before it's sent back out into the environment. And the water savings are impressive. According to the ICA, conventional car washes use about 43.3 gallons of water per car. By following WaterSavers’ guidelines, car washes can save up to 40 percent of that precious H20. One WaterSavers member in Pennsylvania said he went from using 60 plus gallons of water per car to 8 gallons!
A little (surprising) context: ICA says using a garden hose, home washers use more than 60 gallons in as little as five minutes. Car washes tend to use computer controlled systems plus high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage, which puts even the most careful home car washer at a severe disadvantage. And toxic wastewater containing things like motor oil and ammonia usually ends up going untreated down the storm drains, too.

Learn More

• Forbes: The "Greenest" Way To Wash Your Car
• About.com: Eco-Friendly Car Washing
• International Car Wash Association: Participating Water Savers Locations