What can you do ?
Call: (816) 513-0124
E-mail: KC-OCPinfo@kcmo.org
Write to: Water Services Department
City of Kansas City, Mo.
4800 E. 63rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64130
Wash Your Car in the Right Place
For many, car washing is a springtime ritual. Often, residents don’t
know that by washing all that winter grime off their vehicles they
might actually be causing harm to our local waterways.
Water entering storm drains does not undergo treatment before
it is empties into our waterways. When cars are washed on streets
and driveways, the used, dirty water will eventually end up in our
streams, lakes and rivers.
Washing one car may not seem to be a problem, but collectively car
washing activity adds up to big problems for our local streams,
lakes and rivers. Pollution associated with car washing degrades
water quality, impacting aquatic habitats.
What’s the Problem?
Washing your car is only a problem if you don’t know where or how
to do it correctly. The average homeowner uses 116 gallons of water to wash a car! Most commercial car
washes use 60 percent less water for the entire process than a homeowner uses just to rinse the car.
Water that runs off a car when it is washed in a driveway, street, or parking lot can contain substances that
pollute the environment. Dirty water containing soap, detergents, residue from exhaust fumes, gasoline,
heavy metals from rust, and motor oils can wash off cars and flow directly to storm drains and into the
nearest creek or stream where it can harm water quality and wildlife.
Soap can cause excess algae to grow. Excessive algae smell bad, look bad, and harm water quality. As
algae decay, the process uses up oxygen in the water that fish need.
Car wash fundraisers can be a significant source of this kind of pollution. These events are usually held in
heavily paved areas where there is little runoff control or grass to filter out harmful substances before they
reach our waterways.
The best way to minimize the effect washing your car has on the environment is to use a commercial car
wash. Most locations reuse wash water several times before sending it to a treatment plant.
However, if you choose to wash your car at home or on the street, these are some things that you can do to
minimize the water quality impact:
• Use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners only.
• Minimize water usage. Use a spray gun with flow restriction to minimize water volume and runoff.
• Wash on an area that absorbs water, such as gravel, or grass. This can filter water before it enters
groundwater, storm drains, or creeks. Avoid washing cars on concrete or asphalt pavement unless
it drains into a vegetated area.
• Only let wash water soak into the ground as long as you are using biodegradable, phosphate-free
cleaners.
• When planning a car wash fundraiser, try developing a partnership with a commercial car wash
facility.
• Always empty wash buckets into sinks or toilets.
For more information:
Call: (816) 513-0124
Email: KC-OCPinfo@kcmo.org
Write to: Water Services Department
City of Kansas City, Mo.
4800 E. 63rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64130
