Car wash owners in Clark County, Washington may be looking at a large boost in revenue courtesy of the state government, as the powers that be are considering a law that would make washing one’s car a home a punishable offense.
The Oregonian recently published an article reporting that state officials are looking into a plan that would ask Clark County to control what water flows into storm drains, including a potential ban on the sudsy byproduct of at home auto washing. The argument is that the soap and chemicals used to wash cars too often finds its way into the lakes, streams, and other waterways of the land, adding significantly to the pollution of those natural features.
Washington state Department of Ecology employee Bill Moore said, "We want people to make the connection of 'what goes on the street goes into the creek.’”
While Ecology Dept. officials maintain that Clark county offers more than sufficient access to commercial carwashes – which are mandated to contain and treat their wastewater – the many opponents of the measure say that it’s unreasonable to expect citizens to simply stop washing their cars at home.
Said Brian Carlson, Vancouver, Washington’s director of public works, "Banning people from washing their cars and boats -- how realistic is that?"
+ Oregon Live