CAR WASHING REGULATIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE

Hello Fellow Community Members,

This pose is to remind everyone of the regulations around washing vehicles in Washington State. The weather is turning for the better and I know that everyone is anxious to wash away all of the dirt and grime that accumulates during the winter.

A community member reached out last week asking about the regulations in Silverwood regarding washing vehicles after seeing a few neighbors washing their cars. I was intrigued and spent the next hour researching this very issue and what I found surprised me. Being born and raised in Washington State, my family has always washed their vehicles in the driveway. Apparently, my family has been breaking the law in doing so!

According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, washing a vehicle and allowing the runoff to enter the storm drains is classified as storm water contamination. Just like myself and my family, most people do not know that discharging anything other than clean, cold water into Washington state waters is, in fact, illegal. When a car is washed over a paved surface instead of at a professional car wash oil, dirt, and grime, along with the soap, petroleum, and wax are allowed to flow down the storm drain and into the nearest body of water.

The City of Everett and Snohomish county periodically test our storm waters to ensure we are being compliant with state laws. Should the tests show that we are polluting the waters Silverwood would incur fines that we would need to pass onto our residents.

Therefore, per Washington State Regulations, the Board asks that residents do not wash their vehicles in their driveways unless the runoff is properly diverted into your lawn or your home’s sewer system. We recommend utilizing commercial car washes as they are properly permitted to collect and treat the water runoff from their businesses.

More information on this topic can be found on the Washington State Department of Ecology Website.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you!