Eco-Friendly Car Washing

Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household wastewater 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.

 

Engineering studies show that a 5/8" hose running at 50 pounds per square inch uses 10 gallons of water per minute compared to washing your car at a self-serve car wash for only 11.1 gallons.  WOW!

 

Consider the alternatives of professional car washing:

Average flow rate wash and rinse: 3GPM (gallons per minute)
Average flow rate per-soak foaming brush and tire & engine cleaning: 0.6 GPM
The average time for washing and rinsing vehicle: 2.6 minutes
The average time for pre-soak, foaming brush, and tire & engine: 5.3 minutes
Average water used for wash and rise: 7.9 gallons
Average water used for others: 3.2 gallons

Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water 
On the other hand, federal laws in both the U.S. and Canada require commercial carwash facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before it is discharged back into the great outdoors. And commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage. Many also recycle and re-use the rinse water.

 

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.

 

We at Jiffy Car Wash believe that protecting the environment and reducing pollution serves a higher purpose.  It helps the community and saves water, a precious resource that is seemingly unlimited and yet highly un-attainable in many parts of the world.  You can help make a difference by using a professional car wash!