West Army Partners

Car Care on Joint Base Lewis-McChord

By Cathy Hamilton-Wissmer, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division

Most people are surprised to learn that washing a car can pollute their local streams, rivers, lakes, and the Puget Sound Car wash runoff not only contains soap, it's also loaded with the oils, greases, fuel, and road grime that were on the car. In most urban neighborhoods the dirty wash water flows down the driveway, into the street, and within a few feet it drops into a storm drain After the dirty wash water falls through the slotted storm drain grate, it flows through underground pipes straight to the nearest creek or marsh on JBLM. Road runoff does not go to the wastewater treatment plant.

The soaps and detergents are harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms (like the insects fish eat) because they contain surfactants. These chemicals are designed to lift and coat the dirt and grime so it doesn't settle back onto your car, but surfactants are also great at coating gills and this prevents fish and aquatic insects from getting the oxygen they need

The good news is that it is possible to have clean cars and clean streams.

Reduce vehicle contaminants that make their way into Puget Sound These small actions help care for your car and protect Puget Sound and the iconic animals that call it home.

Make sure tires are inflated. This leads to less tire breakdown, and less release of a toxic chemical that kills coho salmon. Learn more at www.streamteam.info/carcare.

Regular car check-ups to prevent leaks.

Wash your car at the MWR auto craft shops or commercial car washeswhich capture and clean dirty wash water.

Check with the JBLM Stormwater team if you have any questions: usarmy.jblm.id-readiness.list.dpw-stormwater@army.mil.

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