In Saturday’s paper I read two references to car washes. The editorial discussed what we can all do to help clean up the water that runs from our city streets through the outfall pipe in Oak Harbor bay. Picking up pet waste, bagging it and throwing it in the trash is very helpful as dog and cat waste carries harmful bacteria that can contaminate our beaches and waterways.

Washing your car was also listed saying “If you can afford it, take it to a commercial facility where the water is cleaned and recycled.” Thank you for mentioning that. One other alternative is to wash your car on grass instead of pavement. The grass will help slow and filter the water and may help recharge our aquifer. Please conserve water using a shut-off nozzle when washing your car. And as your editorial mentioned, it is always a good idea to use biodegradable car wash soap.

The city of Oak Harbor has car wash kits available for free for any group who is planning a fundraising car wash. These kits are easy to set up in certain sites like at Auto Zone and Applebee’s. Other sites around town let the dirty wash water flow into a landscaped area like at Arby’s or Albertson’s.

By using a kit or one of the city’s preferred sites, your fundraising car wash will raise money and awareness on how to prevent the pollution of Puget Sound. Please call the city at 279-4762 for more information or to reserve a car wash kit. Visit www.oakharbor.org for more information.

Maribeth Crandell

Oak Harbor’s environmental educator