Keep it Green When You Clean This Spring

BESTPRACTICES

It is the mission of Stream Team to protect and enhance water resources and associated habitats and wildlife in Thurston County through citizen action and education. Stream Team is funded and jointly managed by the stormwater utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County. www.streamteam.info

CarpetCleaningDirtycarpetwashwatercontainsharmfulpollutantssuchassoap,dirt,oil,grease,

carpetfibers,heavymetalsandothertoxicchemicals.Makesuretodisposeofthedirtywashwaterproperly.Ifconnectedtoasanitarysewersystem,youcandumpthewashwaterdownasink,toilet,bathtuborshower.Makesuretofilterlargerdebrisoutbeforedumping.Throwdebrisintothetrash.Donotdumpdirtywashwaterdownadrainifyouareconnectedtoasepticsystem;thewashwatermayharmyoursepticsystem.Ifyouarehiringacompany,ensuretheyhaveaproperdisposalplan.CleaningDrivewaysandSidewalksSweepdrivewaysandsidewalkstoremovedebrisinsteadofpressurewashingor

usingahose.Disposeofdirtanddebrisinthegarbage.Covervehiclefluidspillswithkittylitterorotherabsorbentmaterialanddisposeofinthegarbage.Ifyouaregoingtouseahoseorpressurewasher,sweepfirst,thenusethelowestsettingpossible.Ifpossible,pressurewashwithwateronly.Directwashwater(withourwithoutsoap)toagrassyorgraveledareatoallowthewashwatertosoakintotheground.PressureWashingHousesandGaragesPressurewashinghousescancausepainttoflakeoff.Coverthegroundwithtarps

beforepressurewashingtohelpcapturethepaintflakesbeforethewastewaterentersthestreetorastormdrain.Ashopvaccanbeusedtovacuumupotherflakesfordisposal.Ifyouhaveanolderhome,youmaywanttotestyourpaintflakesfirsttofindoutifithasleadorotherheavymetals,whichmayrequirethatthepaintflakesbedisposedofashazardousmaterialattheThurstonCountyWasteandRecoveryCenterat2418HogumBayRoadNEinLacey.WashingYourCarThebestwaytocleanyourcarandkeeplocalstreamscleanistotakeittoa

commercialcarwash,wherethewateriscleanedandrecycledon-site,andthegrimeissenttotheLOTTwastewatertreatmentplant.Thenextbestoptionistowashyourcaronthelawnorgraveledarea(notoveradrinkingwellorsepticsystem),sothewashwatercansoakintotheground.Ifyouareplanningonholdingacharitycarwashfundraisingevent,contactyourlocalSteamTeamCoordinator

tofindaCleanCars,CleanStreamsapprovedcharitycarwashlocation.StreamTeamwillalsolendyouaCleanCars,CleanStreamscarwashkit,whichincludesbuckets,sponges,spraynozzles,eco-friendlycarwashsoapandsigns.

Planningonholdingacarwashfundraiser?Thebestwaytoraisemoneythroughcharitycarwashingwhileprotectinglocalwaterwaysisthroughthesaleofcarwashtickets.Carwashticketscanbeorderedwithyour

organization’snameimprintedonthem.Formoreinformationgotowww.CharityCarWash.org

Source:StreamTeamNews,Spring2013

KeepitGreenWhenYouCleanThisSpring