City of Lake Forest Park News Release

Car Washing Information

Washing your car in the driveway may be the most harmful household chore you perform. The soap, dirt and chemicals eventually make their way, without treatment, into the Lake Forest Park’s streams and Lake Washington harming fish species and habitat. According to King County, 60 percent of water pollution comes from vehicles leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks. Furthermore, discharging chemicals, including car wash soap, into the city drainage system is a violation of Lake Forest Park Municipal Code. We can all do our part by considering the following the next time our car needs to be washed:

Wash your car on your lawn or other permeable surfaces.
Use soap sparingly.
Use biodegradable car wash soaps.
Pour your bucket of soapy water down a sink or toilet when you are done.
Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash because most car washes reuse water a few times before it enters the sanitary sewer system for treatment.

Car wash kits are used for charity/fundraising car washes because they pump the wastewater into a toilet or sink, where it flows to a wastewater treatment plant. Call City Hall at 206-368-5440 to borrow a kit.