When a car is washed on paved surfaces, like a driveway or parking lot, the soap, automotive fluids, oil, and roadway dirt that gets washed from the car goes straight into nearby storm drains. Water in storm drains flows directly to lakes, wetlands, streams, and Puget Sound with little or no treatment. Runoff from car washes is toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

If you are planning a fundraising car wash, here are few options:

Sell car wash coupons or use a self-serve bay.

• The Puget Sound Car Wash Association (PSCWA) sells car wash coupons to groups who then sell them to raise funds. The coupons are accepted at participating car wash locations around Puget Sound. Find out more at 1-800-509-WASH or www.charitycarwash.org.
  
• Brown Bear Car Wash charity car wash program. Brown Bear also offers car wash coupons for fundraising. Find out more at (206) 774-3742 or www.brownbear.com.
  
• Classy Chassis charity car wash program. Classy Chassis has four options for charity car washes. Find out more at (253) 284-WASH or www.classychassis.com.
  

Note: Pierce County Public Works & Utilities does not recommend or endorse any specific car wash company or association. The options above are to encourage alternatives to traditional fundraising car washes. If your group wants to hold a traditional fundraising car wash, please borrow one of our free, fish-friendly car wash kits.

Use a fish-friendly car wash kit.

• Car wash kits work by redirecting dirty water away from the storm drain. Pierce County Surface Water Management has free, easy-to-use car wash kits to loan out to organizations such as schools, clubs, churches, and other non-profit groups. Contact Pierce County Surface Water Management at (253) 798-2725 to reserve a kit for your next fundraising car wash.
• Check out locations:
  - Tacoma Mall Plaza, 2702 S. 42nd St., Suite 201, Tacoma, WA 98409
  - Central Maintenance Facility, 4812 - 196th St. E., Frederickson, WA 98387
  - Purdy Road Shop, 13209 Goodnough Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
• The following cities also have kits available for checkout to their residents:
  - City of Tacoma: 253-502-2220, or email envirochallenger@cityoftacoma.org
  - City of Puyallup: 253-841-5505, or email mpalmer@ci.puyallup.wa.us
  - City of Sumner: 253-299-5740
  - City of Orting: 360-893-2219 x139, or email lpost@cityoforting.org
  - City of Lakewood: 253-983-7826, or email dhalar@cityoflakewood.us
  - City of Edgewood: 253-952-3299, or email cityhall@cityofedgewood.org
  - City of University Place: 253-460-6493, or email kschmidt@cityofup.com
  - City of Milton: 253-922-8738. or email jhoward@cityofmilton.net
• Other organizations that check out car wash kits:
  - Puget Creek Restoration Society: 253-779-8890, or email pugetcreek@yahoo.com
  - Sumner High School: 253-891-5500, or email jeffrey_baines@sumnersd.org