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Wash Your Car in "Greener" Water

Do you think washing your car in your driveway is ecologically sound? Scott Tiefenthaler thinks you're wrong. Water used in the home car-washing process goes one place: down. And in Fairfield County, water going into the ground means it eventually makes its way into the Sound.

Westport Wash & Wax, a car wash and detailing outfit, has taken steps for the greener and has retrofitted itself to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Scott, co-owner with his brother Craig, of Westport Wash & Wax, explains: "The majority of water we use at our facility is recycled," he said. Additionally, Scott said wastewater from the process is filtered on-site in order to recapture oil residue and particulates before they are routed to the sanitary sewer for treatment.

Though washing your own car in your own driveway (or on your own street) might not seem a punishable offense, some larger cities in Europe and Asia have banned the practice in order to prevent contaminants from draining into sewers. And though it's still legal to wash your own car in Fairfield County, it's a better idea to have it cleaned in an environmentally responsible way.

Automatic car washes such as Westport Wash & Wax use less than half the water of even the most careful driveway car-washer. According to the International Carwash Association, washing a car at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 45 gallons per car.

And Westport Wash & Wax takes conservation and cleanliness to another level, as their system filters the water they already recycle in order to increase the softness level of the water, a step that enhances cleaning action.

Green and clean come together in a shiny package at Westport Wash & Wax.

791 Post Road East. (203) 227-9274

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