Does car washing really lead to water pollution?

This is a natural stream that was shortened from 200 feet to 50 feet because of urbanization. It is one of the most essential stream for coho salmon. The coho salmon is a species of anadromous fish(which means the egg hatching is in the gravel of stream beds) in the salmon family and one of the five Pacific salmon species. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers".

Unfortunately, the white foam is soap which came downstream from car washing. There are many contaminants in the wash water, such as Petroleum hydrocarbons and Volatile Hydrocarbons; Heavy metals; Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen; Surfactants and suspended solids. In Australia, commercial car washes are required to comply with water authority and council regulations which set strict requirements for wastewater disposal. These restrictions are put in places to protect streams, creeks, and lakes in urban areas.

To prevent hurting streams and aquatic organisms, please try to wash your cars on grass and not on drive-ways! This way the soap permetrates into the soil and doesn't go into the drainage systems into the streams.

Source: https://cleanawater.com.au/infor ... en-washing-your-car

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