Car Washing

Car Washing Web Header

Do you wash your vehicle in your driveway?


Vehicle wash water contains pollutants like oil, grease, heavy metals, solvents and soaps. If these harmful pollutants run off your driveway and into the road, they can flow into storm drains and travel to our local streams, rivers, and Puget Sound - untreated. Over 2,000,000 gallons of contaminated car wash runoff flows into our streams each year!

Car going through a commercial wash

Commercial car wash (JPG)

What does the law say about car washing?


We don't have a "car washing law," but we do have a law that specifies materials that are prohibited from entering storm drains. Soap (even biodegradable), detergent, and many other contaminants are included in the list of materials that should stay out of the stormwater system. You can read the entire list of prohibited materials in Bothell Municipal Code (BMC) 18.04.260. This BMC applies to both public stormwater systems as well as private stormwater systems.

How can I safely wash my vehicle?

If the method you currently use to wash your car allows the soapy water and runoff to drain into the street and storm drains, consider trying a safer method.

Use a commercial car wash


You can reduce pollution in our streams by using a commercial car wash.
CarWashingYesBMPs

Can't use a commercial car wash facility?


  • Wash on your lawn or graveled area so the soil can soak up the water and break down the pollutants
  • Try using a waterless car wash product
  • Save money by hand-washing your vehicle in a commercial car wash bay
  • Always divert the wash water away from the street and storm drains

What if I want to host a car wash as a fundraiser?


There are a number of other ways to raise money that don't negatively impact our water quality.
Q: Are car washing fundraisers allowed in Bothell?
A: Click for the answer.

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