Think Green
Go Green
What is the most environmentally friendly way I can wash my car: doing it myself or going to the local car wash?
Few people realize that washing cars in our home driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains — and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc. After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes — as well as the harsh detergents being used for the washing itself. For this reason, Russell Fischer green car washes is much safer for the environment.
Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water
Car washes in Orange County are required to recapture their wash and rinse water and run it through a series of clarifiers. This process separates dirt, oil, detergents, and other pollutants from the water before it enters the sewer system. The water goes to the OC Sanitation District where it is cleaned (paid for by the car wash) and returned to the natural water supply. This is required by County, State and Federal Law.
The International Carwash Association, an industry group representing commercial car wash companies, reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer. According to one report, washing a car at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 45 gallons per car. At Russell Fischer, we’re committed to maximizing the effect of our washes on your car while minimizing their impact on the environment.
Obviously, this information is self serving to the car wash industry. However, the information is accurate. Clearly, when you choose a car wash, we hope it is one of ours. If not, please use one of our competitors. When you have your car washed at a professional car wash and not in the streets or parking lots, you magically transform from part of the pollution problem to part of a pollution solution.
Oil Recycling
Did you know that a single gallon of used motor oil can ruin a million gallons of water? In the open water, just one quart of used oil can create an oil slick larger than a football field.
In the U.S., more than 120 million gallons of used oil is dumped into storm drains, sewers, back yards and trash cans each year. Much of this will contaminate streams, rivers, lakes and precious groundwater.
Under the law, used oil has to be disposed of at a registered collection center. Each year, we send thousands of gallons of used oil to federally approved recycling centers to be turned into important materials used to create paper products and asphalt for our roads.
Contact your local Russell Fisher car wash service center to make sure they are accepting oil.