What should I know about washing my car or vehicle in Redmond?
Redmond's stormwater management code (RMC 13.06.054) specifically identifies car wash effluent or washwater as a prohibited discharge into storm drains. Redmond's compliance efforts related to vehicle washing primarily focus on commercial entities/businesses. Reducing residential vehicle washing activity involves mostly regional outreach and education efforts that identify alternatives to washing directly into storm drainage systems. Stormwater in Redmond is not treated like the sewage that comes from inside buildings and pollutants in dirty washwater can have a negative impact on creeks, lakes, and other natural waterways, especially when considering the multitude of other potential pollutants that can be introduced by other impactful actions and activities.
Car wash alternatives include:
- Using a car wash.
- Waterless car wash products.
- Containing the washwater, filtering out the dirt, then disposing of in the sanitary sewer.
- Directing washwater to soil or vegetated area where it can soak into the ground (not always code compliant depending on location).