Car washing 101

Do your part to keep our waterways clean

The weather is getting nicer outside, which means many of you may be washing your cars in your driveway. If you’re doing so, there are some important details you need to know before you start scrubbing! 

Dirt, oil, grease, rust, salt, anti-freeze, soap and other chemicals coming off your car can damage the City of Vaughan’s storm sewer system if they enter a catch basin – the drain typically located roadside. To protect this system and the environment, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Do:

• use environmentally friendly products when washing vehicles on your driveway. 

• find a location where the water used to wash your car will not flow into a catch basin. For example, a gravel surface or grass absorbs the water before it reaches a catch basin.

• use a commercial car wash. These facilities are required to discharge contaminated water into the sanitary sewer system where it will be treated.

• report illegal dumping down a catch basin (for example, oils, fertilizers, paint and food scraps) by contacting Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.

Don’t:

• dispose of food scraps, oils, soaps, chemicals or fertilizers down catch basins.

• litter or toss furniture, grass clippings and yard waste into stormwater management ponds.

• use stormwater ponds for recreational use, like swimming, boating or fishing.

To learn more about the City’s stormwater system, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.

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