Car washes are an important fundraising tool for many community groups, but they can be bad for the environment if not carried out properly.

Sending oily, soapy water down storm drains is not only harmful to streams, lakes, wetlands and wildlife, it also violates pollution laws.

Federal Way’s Surface Water Management Division proposes two solutions for sponsoring car washes that are both legal and fish-friendly

Puget Sound Car Wash Association and Brown Bear Car Wash Programs

Through these programs, a charity sells car wash tickets that can be used at several different car washes around Puget Sound.

Tickets are preprinted with the charity’s name and sold to groups for approximately $2 each, then usually resold for $6 to $8 each.

This makes the programs easy to use, and tickets are easy to sell. For more information, call the Puget Sound Car Wash Association at 800.509.9274 or Brown Bear Car Wash at 206.774.3742.

Parking Lot Charity Car Wash Kit

While not the preferred choice, parking lot car washes can still be environmentally safe.

The City of Federal Way has special kits available at no charge that pump wash water into the sewer system, keeping untreated contaminants out of storm drains and local surface waters.

To borrow a parking lot car wash kit, contact the Public Works Department at 253.835-2700.