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Author	Topic: [Poll: 2007.47]: Federal Agencies are cracking down on groud-water and water-b...	Topic is locked Back to Topics

JT Moderator	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2007 11:01:00 PM Ignore JT Report Abuse Federal Agencies are cracking down on groud-water and water-body pollution resulting from businesses washing their own vehicles. How do you tackle this problem when washing your car at home? I never wash my car, I let the rain clean it. I use a car wash, which recycles its water. I use a car wash, and don't know about its water d I catch all runoff and route it to the sewer syste I let it run onto the ground. I let it drain int Post your thoughts about this poll below.

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Message Posted: Nov 17, 2007 11:01:00 PM

Ignore JT Report Abuse

Federal Agencies are cracking down on groud-water and water-body pollution resulting from businesses washing their own vehicles. How do you tackle this problem when washing your car at home?
I never wash my car, I let the rain clean it.
I use a car wash, which recycles its water.
I use a car wash, and don't know about its water d
I catch all runoff and route it to the sewer syste
I let it run onto the ground.
I let it drain int
Post your thoughts about this poll below.

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gasman14 All-Star Author San Diego Posts:708 Points:202,345 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Dec 21, 2008 9:46:24 AM Ignore gasman14 Report Abuse I use a car wash, which recycles its water.
Quazar911 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,070 Points:514,305 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 22, 2008 12:25:57 AM Ignore Quazar911 Report Abuse I use a car wash-unsure about the water recycling
iwannavet Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:10,218 Points:1,827,245 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2008 5:52:53 PM Ignore iwannavet Report Abuse Rain baby rain
Lefty06 Veteran Author Rochester Posts:345 Points:24,000 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2008 5:26:03 PM Ignore Lefty06 Report Abuse I use a car wash, unsure if it recycles water
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:8,490 Points:1,672,170 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2008 11:30:14 PM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse I don't worry about it... good grief... either it runs off onto the grass or onto the street.
kclarkm Rookie Author Houston Posts:7 Points:2,075 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2008 1:52:37 AM Ignore kclarkm Report Abuse I am not sure how washing my car polutes anything. If I do wash my car at home (this happens rarely) it drains into the storm drain which runs off into Buffalo Bayou eventually. I don't use soap or any chemicals, so I don't see a problem. When I use a car wash, the water is not recycled but goes to the sewer which is treated. Either way I have no issues or worries, or much thought about it. The rain in Houston makes my car dirty not clean, so I wash it once every week or two. [Edited by: kclarkm at 8/26/2008 2:53:19 AM EST]
Blubberpuppy Champion Author Baltimore Posts:18,372 Points:1,905,810 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 23, 2008 9:22:24 AM Ignore Blubberpuppy Report Abuse I wash my car outside and don't let any Federal Agencies know what I am doing.
narcar1973 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,637 Points:172,475 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2008 2:28:36 PM Ignore narcar1973 Report Abuse I don't wory about the run off or take it to a car wash.
slarttybartfast Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,125 Points:267,100 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 27, 2008 7:33:06 AM Ignore slarttybartfast Report Abuse I never wash my vehicle... I let the good Lord decide when and where it gets its wash..
Quazar911 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,070 Points:514,305 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2008 2:35:30 AM Ignore Quazar911 Report Abuse I use a car wash-I'm unsure if it recycles its water
YB1234 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,565 Points:1,739,315 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 1, 2008 10:16:08 PM Ignore YB1234 Report Abuse Same here. Wash it in the driveway. The water runoff runs down to the street to the storm drain. But, I do turn the hose off unless I'm actually using it.
YB1234 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,565 Points:1,739,315 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 1, 2008 10:15:25 PM Ignore YB1234 Report Abuse I wash my own car on my driveway and let the water run into a storm drain.
YB1234 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,565 Points:1,739,315 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 1, 2008 10:14:48 PM Ignore YB1234 Report Abuse Wash it on the driveway; let the water run off to the drain. Who collects it ?
YB1234 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,565 Points:1,739,315 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 1, 2008 10:13:28 PM Ignore YB1234 Report Abuse I let it soak into the driveway.
YB1234 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,565 Points:1,739,315 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 1, 2008 10:12:51 PM Ignore YB1234 Report Abuse I use a car wash, and don't know about its water
c47 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,819 Points:2,305,570 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jun 17, 2008 6:36:02 AM Ignore c47 Report Abuse I let it run on the ground.
gasisoutrageous Champion Author Lansing Posts:8,610 Points:929,005 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2008 11:43:03 PM Ignore gasisoutrageous Report Abuse I use a car wash which probably recycles its water. Many times however, I just let the rain do it.
Dorkchop Champion Author Maryland Posts:11,403 Points:1,797,515 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jun 12, 2008 10:31:49 AM Ignore Dorkchop Report Abuse Usually the rain washes it for me. A few times a year I will wash it myself - the water goes to the sewer.
Philmar Sophomore Author Cleveland Posts:248 Points:76,475 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2008 8:49:32 PM Ignore Philmar Report Abuse I never wash my car, I let the rain clean it.
EEwing Rookie Author Modesto Posts:10 Points:300 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2008 12:14:19 PM Ignore EEwing Report Abuse Well to be honest with you all,the Government is always BUTTING into our Lifes,it's all about CONTROL,they should shut the HELL up,and let us wash our cars as we want and where we want,I would like to know where they wash their Cars if any.But I usually wash my car at a self car wash place.
MnSwede Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,063 Points:824,325 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 9, 2008 9:02:18 AM Ignore MnSwede Report Abuse I use a biodegradable detergent that does not harm the environment
wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,687,165 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Apr 9, 2008 8:58:42 AM Ignore wild3bill Report Abuse In my town,I read, the town Highway department pollutes the gound water with a pile of road salt which they also, spread all over town. I read, next to the salt pile is a garage where degreasers used to wash town vehicles went through a floor drain into the ground water supply
Quazar911 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,070 Points:514,305 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Apr 2, 2008 11:34:37 PM Ignore Quazar911 Report Abuse I use a car wash-I think the water is recycled
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,059 Points:2,673,290 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 31, 2008 5:44:53 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse I let it run onto the ground.
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,351 Points:2,110,060 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 24, 2008 8:37:34 AM Ignore tobasco Report Abuse If I wash it at home, it goes down the gutter.
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:11,982 Points:2,464,695 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Mar 7, 2008 1:47:34 PM Ignore throttle Report Abuse I don't wsh my car at home.
MnSwede Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,063 Points:824,325 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 17, 2008 2:46:22 PM Ignore MnSwede Report Abuse If I wash it myself, I assways use the biodegradable detergent I sell
Quazar911 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,070 Points:514,305 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 17, 2008 2:44:09 PM Ignore Quazar911 Report Abuse I use car wash-unknown if it recycles
GassPains22 All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:645 Points:242,715 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Feb 17, 2008 6:42:34 AM Ignore GassPains22 Report Abuse My Two Cents: Every time I see Some Schifosa Washing Hes/Her Vehicle Outdoors And Letting All The Dirt Into The Storm Drain I Tell The Authorities,Weather They Do Anything Or Not I Don't Know.At Least They Thank Me.
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,059 Points:2,673,290 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jan 27, 2008 8:46:30 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse I let it run onto the ground.
horndviking Rookie Author New York Posts:20 Points:209,150 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2008 11:10:13 AM Ignore horndviking Report Abuse Use a car wash.
Quazar911 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,070 Points:514,305 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jan 10, 2008 1:39:58 AM Ignore Quazar911 Report Abuse I use a car wash and I'm pretty sure the water is recycled
dongo50 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:14,705 Points:2,381,995 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2007 7:39:29 AM Ignore dongo50 Report Abuse not an issue here.
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,059 Points:2,673,290 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2007 7:26:00 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse I let it run onto the ground.
FogCitySpotter Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,493 Points:522,400 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2007 7:57:39 AM Ignore FogCitySpotter Report Abuse I use a car wash, which recycles its water.
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,059 Points:2,673,290 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2007 6:13:09 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse I let it run onto the ground
doverdude Rookie Author Delaware Posts:24 Points:47,475 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 30, 2007 4:10:03 PM Ignore doverdude Report Abuse I clean my once a month in the winter and maybe once every 2 weeks in the summer.
BMW330CiSLC Veteran Author Salt Lake City Posts:450 Points:92,135 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Nov 29, 2007 9:50:26 AM Ignore BMW330CiSLC Report Abuse I have in the past washed my car by driving it on to the grass so this way I watter the lawn and get my car sparkly clean. Now that I have moved in to the down town area and live in the condo I use self car wash and I am not aware of the watter flow system and their drains. I hope that this is not to harmful for humanity.
1stGasSavercom Rookie Author Los Angeles Posts:56 Points:22,575 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2007 10:21:41 PM Ignore 1stGasSavercom Report Abuse Let it drain into the drain system
aj53 Sophomore Author San Jose Posts:101 Points:1,265,955 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2007 5:15:57 PM Ignore aj53 Report Abuse What isn't 'Big Brother' cracking down on? More control = more government jobs = more fines = more revenue; all for protecting us from ourselves.
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,059 Points:2,673,290 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2007 7:05:19 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse I let it run onto the ground
DenverDonJuan Champion Author Denver Posts:33,188 Points:2,658,310 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 11:10:16 PM Ignore DenverDonJuan Report Abuse I wash the car myself and mother nature recycles the water efficiently, more than any way else, including a car wash which recycles water. 1. Usually drive car onto lawn. 2. Mix bucket of light soapy water (usually does 2 autos) 3. Quick pressure spray entire auto to rinse off grit using Jet-X. 4. Apply sudsy water to car surfaces with wash mitten in sections from top down: a.top, b.trunk, c.hood, d.one side, e.rear, f.other side, g.front grille, and h.tires last. About 5 gal water/car used incl rinse. 5.Use Jet-X to pressure spray residue off, after washing each section. 6. Residue, soap and rinse water falls onto the lawn. Provides moisture and nourishment. The soap "wets" the lawn soil and provides better absorbsion for future rain and/or watering. It also helps control lawn fungus. Note, no electricity or energy is expended or gas wasted. ETC!
MattMan Rookie Author Florida Posts:7 Points:41,765 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 8:31:36 PM Ignore MattMan Report Abuse This story is way off base. Large businesses that use trucks, like UPS, Fedex, etc. use designated fleet washing stations at their regional or city headquarters. These car washing stations, similar to any do-it-yourself car wash, have many strict regulations about how the water/chemicals drain. Almost all state building codes mandate for use of something called an oil/water separator. Also known as a skimmer, this device catches every drop of water that drips off of these trucks/cars when washing. By use of simple gravity and the principle that oil floats on water, 100% of the chemicals and oil that may be in the wash water are collected in a trap. This trap is pumped out on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and the contents are disposed of per EPA regulations. Believe it or not, an oil/water separator is a mandatory installation at EVERY fueling station in the country. Think about the fuel that drips down your car or out of the nozzle and onto the pavement when you are fueling up your car. Those little droplets add up. Even after evaporation hydrocarbons still remain in the pavement. After a good rain or snow, these can be washed into the storm sewer system, and ultimately into ground water. With an oil/water separator, these hydrocarbons are contained, and clean storm water continues to the sewer system. The next time you are at a gas station, look around for two round manhole covers approximately 1-3 feet apart. That is the oil/water separator. After about 1-2 months at gas station that dispenses a large amount of fuel, the sludge that is pumped from the oil/water separator is enough to evoke a "WOW!" Believe me, engineers have been at this awhile and they will continue to develop advances to keep our water clean and our vehicles sparkling. -mf
SenileOldMan Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,518 Points:942,135 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 5:20:17 PM Ignore SenileOldMan Report Abuse rain, which in this neck of the woods is clean enough to drink and water plants with............
pkhdonovan Champion Author Maine Posts:12,011 Points:2,705,805 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 3:42:54 PM Ignore pkhdonovan Report Abuse it goes in the driveway
yelobus Champion Author Houston Posts:5,605 Points:1,557,815 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 1:48:46 PM Ignore yelobus Report Abuse I wipe my car off with a damp handkerchief.
Babs9297 Sophomore Author Kansas City Posts:156 Points:711,970 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 1:48:44 PM Ignore Babs9297 Report Abuse Whenever my car sits out in the rain, it becomes horribly dirty from the rain --------- so I am jealous of those people who discover that their car is actually washed by the rain and clean afterwards. Maybe we have lots of dirt in the air between the clouds and my car!
GreenLuminaAPV Champion Author Akron Posts:3,812 Points:743,165 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 12:36:40 PM Ignore GreenLuminaAPV Report Abuse I use a car wash, and don't know about its water
imcruizn Champion Author Georgia Posts:10,887 Points:2,412,955 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 11:18:28 AM Ignore imcruizn Report Abuse whatever i feel like doing
Motidover Champion Author Miami Posts:10,508 Points:2,067,635 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2007 10:48:10 AM Ignore Motidover Report Abuse I never wash my car, I let the rain clean it