Green Corner: What’s the Greenest Way to Wash Your Car?

A car wash. Why? Because state law requires car washes to treat wastewater by sending it to the wastewater treatment plant to clean before discharging it into waterways. Dirty, soapy water from a driveway wash goes down the sewer and, untreated, directly into waterways. If washing the car at home is your summertime pleasure, park the car on the grass, so the lawn soaks up water (and greens your grass), breaks down soap residue, and keeps runoff out of storm drains and nearby rivers. Questions? Email greencorner@uuaa.org.