Car wash runoff is known to be a pollution source to surface water bodies. Many groups hold car-washing fundraisers unaware of pollution issues associated with car wash runoff. This preliminary study investigated whether rain gardens are an appropriate management practice for reducing car wash pollutants, specifically surfactants. The concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), total suspended solids (TSS), and surfactants were measured in car wash runoff before and after treatment in three rain garden mesocosms. Mean TSS and surfactant effluent concentrations were significantly lower than the car wash runoff with TSS reductions ranging from 84 to 95% and surfactant reductions ranging from 89 to 96%. The removal efficiencies for surfactants were not enough to reduce concentrations below literature-based values for aquatic toxicity. Mean TP effluent concentrations were higher than the car wash runoff with increases ranging from 197 to 388%, although the increase was not statistically significant. This project demonstrates the potential for using bioretention to reduce pollutants associated with car wash runoff and using car wash events to educate the public about watershed protection.
Over the past 4 years, rain barrel programming for residents has been implemented in both Northern Virginia and New Jersey as a method for educating the public about stormwater management and water conservation. Program participants demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge of water resource issues. Follow-up surveys showed 58% of New Jersey respondents and 48% of Virginia respondents adopted at least one additional best management practice at home. Results show that the enthusiasm for rain barrels can be used as an opportunity to educate and enable residents to be water resource managers on their own properties.
Encouraging water conservation among residents is important even in high rainfall regions. Rebates are often used to encourage upgrades to water-efficient fixtures and appliances. The study reported here used a reverse auction approach to examine the amount of compensation needed for residents of water-rich regions to install water saving technology in their homes. Results showed that on average a 30% rebate was needed for residents to upgrade their fixtures and appliances. Lessons learned from the study can assist other Extension programs in implementing an auction-based approach for encouraging adoption of improved environmental practices in a community.
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