Cutting Down on Water Pollution and Waste With WaterSavers

Disclosure:  I am working with the International Carwash Association to share these tips. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

I don’t know about others but I drive a lot more in the Summertime, especially being that it can be awful here in Chicago in the winter.  I visit my family and friends and drive all over with my kids keeping us busy and entertained. Well a campaign from the International Carwash Association (ICA) called WaterSavers wants to help drivers prevent water pollution and water waste.  I know I take water for granted and I am sure I am not alone in that.

Washing your own car for example can cause water pollution.  Water entering storm drains does not undergo treatment before it is discharged.  So when cars are washed on streets, driveways or parking lots, that dirty water ends up in rivers, stream and lakes.  Washing one car may not seem like a big deal but think of all the people across the United States that are washing their own cars.

A study by the City of Federal Way in Washington, found that residential car washing led to the following being released into their storm sewer system:

• 190 gallons (719 liters) of gasoline, diesel and motor oil
• 400 pounds of phosphorus and nitrogen
• 60 pounds of ammonia
• 2,200 pounds of surfactants
• 3,000 pounds of solids

That is the total annual release and yet only for their small community of 62,000 cars and trucks – compared to the more than 300 million registered vehicles in North America!  Yeah thats a lot of water waste and pollution!

Here are some eco-friendly tips from WaterSavers to get your car ready for Summertime travels:

• Wash your car at a professional car wash. Winter months can be especially hard on your vehicle and washing your car is an easy first step to making your car feel new again. Using a professional car wash is a great way to protect the environment. According to the International Carwash Association, WaterSavers professional car washes use an average of 40 gallons of water or less per car while recycling and filtering their water to prevent harmful chemicals from going into our rivers and streams. Professional car washes also remove salt from the undercarriage of your vehicle, which is a must after a long winter.  By comparison, the average home washing machine uses 41 gallons per cycle, and a garden hose uses 63 gallons of water in just five minutes. You can learn more, and find aWaterSavers wash at Washwithwatersavers.com.

• Give the inside a deep clean. Winter’s elements are hard on the outside of your car, but many people forget the abuse the vehicle’s interior takes as well. Think of how many times you’ve crawled into your vehicle with dirty, snowy feet and you can begin to understand why cleaning the inside is necessary. Apply some baking soda and a rubber sponge to your floor mats for an environmentally friendly and efficient clean. Then, wipe down interior surfaces with a microfiber cloth and vacuum the fabric and floor to remove dirt, sand, salt and dust.

• Don’t forget the maintenance check. Winter is finally over, but that doesn’t mean your vehicle can skip an overall maintenance check, especially if you want to save energy. Make sure to have your oil changed and give your vehicle an once-over. Check the fluid levels as well. The more efficiently your vehicle runs, the more gas you’ll save.

• How’s your tire pressure and alignment? Low tire pressure will cause your vehicle to overexert itself and waste gas so make sure your tires are up to the task. Your tires list their recommended pressure on the side. If you can’t find it, you can find the recommended tire pressure in your owner’s manual. It is also a good idea to have a certified technician conduct an alignment test since it could have been thrown off by driving over pot holes during the winter months.

Stay Connected with WaterSavers:

WaterSavers WEBSITE | WaterSavers FACEBOOK | WaterSavers TWITTER

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a WaterSavers Prize Pack

Includes:

• Gap Stick – A versatile auto accessory to help access the hard-to-reach areas of a vehicle. Designed with a strong magnetic hook, the gap stick can pick up a key ring, jewelry or anything else that has slipped between the seat and the center console.
• Phone Caddy – A plastic phone holder that clips to air vents in any vehicle to keep your phone in view for GPS usage and close to charging outlets.
• Auto Trash Bag – A sleekly designed bag with a bottom zippered compartment for extra garage bags or hand wipes.
• $50 Visa Gift Card

Need help entering a giveaway?  Check out my blog post for some help!

GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway Ends June 16, 2014.