During a car wash, harmful debris, motor fluids, and soap are washed off of vehicles. When untreated, these materials may runoff into storm drains and have the potential to cause harm to nearby aquatic environments. Whenever possible, opting for the commercial car wash over the at-home car wash reduces the amount of pollutants entering waterways. Many professional car washes collect their used water, treat it, and recycle it, greatly reducing the amount of freshwater they consume! If you decide to wash your car at home, washing it over the grass is a great way to prevent harmful runoff. If washed on paved surfaces such as driveways and roads, runoff collects pollutants and can flow into waterways. Therefore, washing cars over an unpaved surface such as your lawn and limiting the amount of water used helps to prevent water pollution. For more information, please visit www.respectourwaters.org.