HOW WE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
At Star Express Car Wash, we use state-of-the-art technology to protect the environment while delivering a spotless shine. Our water is carefully filtered and directed to the sewer for proper treatment, our computer-controlled systems reduce waste by using only a fraction of the water needed for hand washing, and our eco-friendly soaps and energy-efficient practices further minimize environmental impact—so you can feel good about every wash.
WATER USE
Washing at home can take up to 140 gallons of water, while Star Express uses only about 35 gallons per car.
RECYCLED WATER
Star Express reclaims and filters nearly all water for reuse, saving about 20 gallons of fresh water per wash.
WATER TREATMENT
Any water not reused is sent to local treatment facilities, where it’s properly processed before returning to rivers and streams.
COMPUTER CONTROLS
Star Express uses state-of-the-art controllers that measure your car’s length and time each water application precisely—ensuring no more water is used than necessary.
SAFE CHEMISTRY
Star Express uses Qual Chem products that are non-acidic, non-caustic, non-corrosive, and biodegradable—keeping your car, you, and the environment safe from harmful chemicals.
PRECISION NOZZLES
With finely engineered stainless steel and brass nozzles, Star Express applies exactly the right amount of water and cleaning solution—minimizing waste just like our computer controls.
CENTRAL COLLECTION
Star Express acts as a collection point for the dirt and grime washed off cars, safely redirecting this non-hazardous waste to facilities equipped to handle it properly.
The DIRTY Secret of Home Car Washing
WASHING AT HOME
Washing your car at home may seem harmless, but the runoff carries soap, oils, brake dust, and other pollutants into storm drains and, ultimately, into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Professional car washes, by contrast, use high-pressure, low-flow systems that conserve water, recycle and treat wastewater, and ensure it’s safely discharged into the sewer system—making them a cleaner and more responsible choice for both your car and the environment. The Federal Way Surface Water Management Division’s Residential Car Washwater Monitoring Study confirms what environmentalists have long warned: driveway car washing directly harms local waterways and the Puget Sound.
WASTES WATER
A standard garden hose can use up to 14 gallons per minute—meaning a 10-minute home wash can waste as much as 140 gallons of water.
POLLUTES STORM DRAINS
Home car washing sends toxic substances—like oil, grease, antifreeze, brake dust, and rust—straight into storm drains. Because storm drains carry only rainwater, this runoff enters rivers and streams without any treatment.
CLOGS STORM DRAINS
Storm drains are built for rainwater, not car wash runoff. Dirt and grime from home washing can clog the system, reducing efficiency during heavy rains.
HARMS WILDLIFE
Even without soap, rinsing a car at home releases pollutants that flow into rivers and streams. Studies show these chemicals can damage fish gills, strip protective oils, reduce oxygen absorption, and ultimately kill aquatic life.
WATER TREATMENT
STAR EXPRESS VS. AT HOME
STAR EXPRESS
- Water Reclaim. All fresh water at Star Express is collected in reclaim tanks for potential reuse.
- Filtered & Reused. Reclaimed water is filtered and used in the early wash stages, conserving fresh water.
- Overflow Protection. Any water not reused flows into the municipal sewer system.
- Safe Release. The sewer system treats and cleans the water before it returns to rivers and streams, protecting wildlife.
AT HOME
- The storm drainage system is a network of ditches, pipes, and culverts that directs rainwater into local waterways.
- Stormwater that falls on streets and buildings flows into this system and is released untreated into rivers and streams.
- Washing your car at home sends soaps, oils, and chemicals into storm drains—none of which are pre-treated.
- No detergent is approved for discharge into storm sewers.
- The Federal Clean Water Act prohibits professional car washes from sending wastewater into storm drains.
- Instead, professional car washes direct wastewater into the sanitary sewer system, where it is properly treated.
DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT:
Click the links below for more information on home car washing effects on the environment.
How do traditional fundraising car washes harm our environment?
Hosting a car wash is a popular way for community groups to raise money. Unfortunately, while these events may help an organization’s budget, they often harm the environment. Most of these fundraisers are held in parking lots that drain directly into stormwater systems, which empty into our rivers and streams. That means soap suds, oil, grease, and other pollutants wash off cars, run down curbs, and end up contaminating local waterways.
Even biodegradable soaps cause problems—when they break down in streams, they consume oxygen that fish, plants, and other aquatic life depend on. In short, dirt, oil, and car wash runoff don’t just disappear. They directly threaten the health of fish, wildlife, and surrounding ecosystems.
On top of being environmentally damaging, this type of fundraiser is also against the law. Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency passed the Clean Water Act in 1972—and with Phase 2 going into effect in 1999—it has been illegal to put anything other than rainwater into storm drains.
A Cleaner, Legal, and More Successful Solution
Does this mean nonprofits can no longer benefit from car wash fundraisers? Not at all. Star Express Car Wash offers a proven fundraising program designed specifically for local organizations. Unlike parking lot washes, this program is safe, legal, and environmentally friendly. It not only protects our rivers and streams, but also consistently raises more money for participating groups.
With Star Express Car Wash, organizations can continue to raise the funds they need—without putting our community’s waterways at risk.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
At Star Express Car Wash, we believe in protecting more than just the Earth—we protect your vehicle too. That’s why we carefully select detergents that are safe for the environment while delivering the deepest, most thorough clean. Click below to see how our advanced processes are designed to keep your car’s finish shining and protected.
