‘Safe’ detergents don’t wash with Council

Hutt City Council is frustrated by residents, groups and businesses that continue to pollute the city’s waterways when they wash their cars.

The polluters include people who believe biodegradable detergents are eco-friendly and not toxic to aquatic animal and plant life.

“There are no environmentally friendly detergents and that includes biodegradable brands,” says Council’s Regulatory Services Divisional Manager Geoff Stuart.

“Any detergent or cleaning agent that gets into the city’s stormwater drains when a resident washes their car ultimately ends up in our streams, rivers and harbour. The impact on our environment can be devastating,” he says.

For several years Council has been urging residents who wash their cars at home to do so in a way that avoids runoff getting into the city’s street drains.

However, Mr Stuart says just last month Council had to write to several residents and at least one business who allowed runoff to get into stormwater drains when they were washing cars.

Mr Stuart says some Lower Hutt schools, churches and other groups running a car wash to raise funds have also let runoff get into the stormwater drains.

Some groups were working with Council to ensure their car wash fund raisers were environmentally friendly. But the message still needed to get through, Mr Stuart says.

Car wash detergents can also remove contaminants such as oil, grime and copper from car brakes, which also get into stormwater drains.

Council recommends that residents use a commercial car wash. But if a resident prefers to wash their car at home this weekend, they could avoid or reduce environmental harm by washing on a lawn or gravel. This allows the runoff to soak into the soil rather than reach a stormwater drain.

Mr Stuart also renewed Council’s warning about flushing so-called “flushable” wet wipes.

The wipes can contribute to blocking the city’s sewerage system, including the creation of “fatbergs” – a mix of wipes, congealed fat, grease and oils. Fatbergs are a big problem overseas, where a 15 tonne one was found in London’s sewerage system.

“If you are going to use wipes, don’t dispose of them by flushing,” Mr Stuart says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media