May 21, 2009

Mother's Advertisement

Letter to Editor

The current Mother’s advertisement running in your June edition is very misleading and portrays the drive thru car wash industry in a very demeaning and offensive manner. The ad contains language that is derogatory and degrading to the tens of thousands of car wash operators across the United States who operate safe and successful modern drive thru car washes.

The picture of the car wash equipment used in the advertisement is equipment that has been outdated for nearly more than 20 years. The picture is not representative of the type of equipment that exists today in a modern drive thru car wash that utilizes soft cloth, lambs cloth, soft foam or touchless car washing. To use such a picture depicting it as a “Modern Convenience” is outrageous, misleading and grossly exaggerated.

The Mother’s ad uses discreditable language and inaccurately stereotypes the car wash industry. There are literally millions of satisfied consumers who use a drive thru car wash as a “Modern Convenience” on a weekly basis with satisfactory results and drive away with a clean and polished vehicle – and protect the environment in the process.

In fact, using a professional car wash whether it is full service, express, in-bay automatic or self serve is better for the environment as many car washes recycle their water for re-use making them more socially and environmentally responsible. A commercial car wash averages 35 gallons of water or less per car and treats dirty water before diverting it into the sewer. Home car washing in the driveway can use between 80 to 140 gallons of water and releases toxins into the storm drain where it ends up in our natural watersheds, including our streams, lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans killing necessary marine organisms needed to keep these watersheds environmentally healthy.

Sincerely,

Jerry Nix
President, Western Carwash Association, and owner of four Self Serve Car Washes and three In-Bay Automatics in Washington State

May 7, 2009

Don’t Put That Down The Storm Drain!
Tips for Washing Your Car the Environmentally Friendly Way

While most of these are a necessary part of our daily lives, every little bit we conserve makes a difference. One activity where you can conserve not only water, but save the environment at the same time, is to consider how you wash your car. When you wash your car in your driveway, the dirty water goes straight into the storm drain where it ends up in our natural watersheds, including our streams, lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. In addition, the chemicals in the soap you use to wash your car could act like a fertilizer killing the weeds and algae that produce the oxygen needed by the organisms that live in our waterways. These organisms keep our waterways healthy for marine and other wildlife to use and us to enjoy.

One of the best ways to conserve water and save the environment is to use a professional car wash. Commercial car washes – full service, express or self serve – are environmentally friendly; whereas washing your car in your driveway at home directly harms the environment. According to Jerry Nix, President of the Western Carwash Association (WCA), "Washing your car at home could use between 80 to 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages 35 gallons or less per car and dirty water at car washes facilities is diverted into the sewer system and therefore treated prior to being released into our waterway system. Also, most car washes have technology to control the amount of water used as well as recycling systems to reuse water more efficiently." Computer controlled systems, high-pressure nozzles, pumps that minimize water usage and proper disposal of soaps and chemicals are some of the many ways car wash owner and operators do their part to conserve water and protect the environment – something they started doing long before being "green" was the in-thing.

It’s not just up to business like car washes that use water to look out for the environment. Everyone needs to conserve. Charity carwashes are another activity where the intent is honorably, but the environmental impact is harmful. "Carwash fundraisers usually use a paved area of a church, gas station or other business and neglect to take the necessary steps to ensure the dirty water and chemicals don’t enter the storm drains," states Holly Macriss, WCA Executive Director. There is an easier way to fundraise and protect the environment! Macriss suggests asking your neighborhood car wash if they would offer a fund-raising option for your charity. "Your group can still splash about and bring recognition to your charity, but you can do it in a facility that knows how to dispose of the dirty water correctly and use less water to clean your donor’s car." To find a charity car wash in your area, please visit www.wcwa.org.

If you must wash your car at home, the WCA offers these tips:

• Wash your car on a grassy or gravel area. The soil or gravel will hold back soapy water from entering the street, ditch or storm drain.
• Use a spray nozzle that controls water flow.
• Use environmentally friendly soaps – avoid products that contain phosphates, petroleum-distillates, kerosene, or silicone. Use soaps labeled non-toxic, phosphate-free and are vegetable- or citrus-based.
• If your car isn’t too dirty, try using just a bucket of water and a sponge. Just make sure to wring the sponge over the bucket and not on the ground.
• If you use a bucket filled with soapy water, dispose of contents in a sanitary system such as your toilet or sink.
• Use re-usable microfiber towels

The Western Carwash Association works with its members to be environmentally aware and encourages you to do your part to keep our environment pure and pristine for future generations.

This information is provided by The Western Carwash Association, a trade association representing professional car wash owner and operators located in 12 western states. For more information please contact Holly Macriss, WCA Executive Director, at 916-235-4135 or hollym@wcwa.org.

May 7, 2009

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE
WCA Members Comply with Labor Laws

FOLSOM, CA – The recent sweeps by the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of the Labor Standards Enforcement at the end of April resulted in $771,850 in fines, but only 7%, or $53,700, of the total fines came from Western Carwash Association (WCA) members.

“It’s unfortunate that 65 of the facilities visited were fined for not registering or renewing their registrations, but only five of the 65 are WCA members. I’d like to think that if the owner/operators of the other 60 facilities had been WCA members, they wouldn’t have received a registration fine,” said Holly Macriss, WCA Executive Director.

Jerry Nix, WCA President, stated “It’s a strong indication that the education and outreach programs the WCA have implemented in getting car washes registered in California are working successfully as we are seeing less and less WCA members with violations.”

It’s important for all California car wash owner/operators to register their facilities and to maintain their registration yearly. “The registration isn’t a one-time thing. The fine for not renewing a registration is $100 each calendar day, not to exceed $10,000. It’s only $250 to renew,” said Macriss.

There are some car wash entities that are exempt from registering, such as self serve operators. For a complete list of those entities that are exempt from registering, visit http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/HowToObtainCarWashRegistration.htm and read the section “What does the term ‘employer’