Washing a vehicle at home this summer?

With the summer sun comes more outdoor activities – and for many, that includes washing a vehicle on the driveway. But did you know there are harsh ingredients in soaps used to wash cars that can be harmful when drained into a catch basin? The City of Vaughan is providing simple tips you can take to help protect Vaughan’s stormwater system.

It’s important to be aware of what can and can’t go down a catch basin – a curbside drain that collects stormwater and run-off from outdoor water use, such as car washing, and carries it to a stormwater management pond. Then, the water goes back into local creeks, rivers and lakes, like Lake Ontario – the source of Vaughan’s drinking water.

Here are some quick water usage reminders to keep in mind this summer.

Do:

• use environmentally friendly products when washing vehicles on your driveway. Not doing so can result in chemicals being drained into a catch basin. This water is not treated before eventually moving into Lake Ontario.
• use a commercial car wash. These facilities are required to discharge contaminated water into the sanitary sewer system where it will be treated.
• find a location where the water used to wash your car will not flow into a catch basin. For example, a gravel surface or grass absorbs the water before it reaches a catch basin.
• report illegal dumping down a catch basin (for example, oils, fertilizers, paint and construction materials) by contacting Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.

Don’t:

• litter in or around stormwater ponds.
• dispose of food, food scraps, oils, chemicals or fertilizers down catch basins.
• throw furniture, grass clippings and yard waste into stormwater ponds.
• use stormwater ponds for recreational use, like swimming, boating or fishing.

To learn more about the City’s catch basins and stormwater system, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.

The City of Vaughan is committed to protecting the environment and fostering a sustainable future while delivering Service Excellence, as outlined in the Council-approved 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. Ensuring everyone understands the role they play in safe and efficient water and wastewater systems is critical in maintaining and protecting water, wastewater and stormwater services.

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