Vehicle Washing
Vehicle washing discharges a toxic mix of oils, grease, heavy metals, rust, and benzene. Vehicle washing is a major contributor to San Francisco Bay of lead, copper, cadmium, chromium, and zinc. Vehicle wash waters contained high phosphorus levels, high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and low organic content. The US Environmental Protection Agency highlights several concerns from vehicle and equipment wash waters: suspended solids (TSS), alkalinity (pH), salts, particulate matter, oil, grease, organics, COD, chlorinated solvents, detergents, lubricants, additives, heavy metals, antifreeze, and acid/alkaline waste.
Cleaners
Vehicle-wash cleaners consist of a wide variety of soaps, degreasers, waxes, cleaners, wipes, and sprays for the purpose of cleaning and protecting automotive paint. All of these are harmful to the environment. Armor All's web site advises product users to: "Clean your car in an area that allows for evaporation of run-off and prevent entry into storm drains, streams, or any body of water." Even “biodegradable” soaps are not good for the environment.
Runoff
California EPA, the State Water Resources Control Board, and every other agency, recommends capturing and infiltrating vehicle wash water rather than allowing it to run off. The US Environmental Protection Agency says “Wash your car in the driveway if it drains onto a lawn or garden area, but avoid using the driveway if the water runs into a street or drain.”
The simplest way to keep wash water out of local creeks is to use a commercial vehicle wash facility. There are several in Concord:
| Car Wash | Phone |
|---|---|
| Arco Car Wash 2490 Monument Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 |
(925) 680-1519 |
| Brothers Detail Center 1840 Monument Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 |
(925) 685-6787 |
| Clayton Car Wash 4748 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94521 |
(925) 676-4818 |
| Clayton Concord Car Wash 4524 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94521 |
(925) 687-1155 |
| Concord Auto Body & Paint 2241 Monument Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 |
(925) 671-7777 |
| Diablo Car Wash & Detail 1024 Alberta Way, Concord, CA 94521 |
(925) 691-4529 |
| Gold Coin Car Wash 2191 Monument Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 |
(925) 687-6070 |
| Kwik N Easy Car Wash 1305 Galindo St, Concord, CA 94520 |
(925) 687-4046 |
| Rain & Shine Car Wash 4595 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94521 |
(925) 798-2520 |
| Rodriguez Auto Detailing 1000 Detroit Ave, Concord, CA 94518 |
(925) 827-4649 |
| Super Station Car Wash 627 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 |
(925) 689-9274 |
Alternative
There are also vehicle care products that are made to be sprayed on and wiped off. When using these products properly, nothing touches the ground or runs off.
Safeguards must always be used to protect the environment when washing vehicles:
- Collect and discharge all wash water to a sanitary sewer (sink, toilet, bathtub, etc) where available. No water should run off the wash site.
- If a sanitary sewer connection is not available, dispose of wash water in a grassy (preferred) or dirt area where it can completely soak into the ground or evaporate.
- Keep a distance of at least 100 feet from any well head if discharging to ground.
- When washing is over an impervious area like pavement, that drains to a storm sewer or dry well, a temporary plug should be placed in the storm drain. to insure that no water can enter. Any accumulated water must be pumped to a sanitary sewer system.
- Always minimize the amount of soap and detergent used.
- Use less toxic cleaning products like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, borax, club soda, toothpaste, and other biodegradable products.
- Never discharge anything to storm sewers or surface waters.
Using these Best Management Practices will prevent pollutants from entering the storm drain, creek, delta, and bay.
More information
The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board website has more information on pollutants like mercury, selenium, nickel, copper, pesticides, PCBs, and DDT that are impacting local creeks and San Francisco Bay.
