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Long Beach Police Department Floats Waterless Car Wash Project
by Meredith Reynolds, Sustainability Coordinator
Oct 27, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA
The Long Beach Police Department is trading in its hoses for a more environmentally friendly method of washing police vehicles. The Police Department announced today a waterless car wash pilot project aimed at reducing the water used for washing police vehicles. This 12-week Pilot project will test waterless car wash products to see how the waterless alternatives compare.
“This could be a win-win situation for the City if this pilot program is successful,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “We are taking another step to becoming a sustainable city by reducing water usage and pollution, but also save the City money.”
The Police Department washes approximately 50 police vehicles per week at the Police Headquarters. “Washing our vehicles is necessary to maintain them, but does not necessarily require the use of water,” said Chief Billy Quach. “The Long Beach Police Department is committed to looking for ways to reduce our operational water usage to be in line with the City’s water policies.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cleaning a vehicle using soap and a water hose can waste up to 116 gallons of water per car wash. The dirt and debris stuck to an automobile’s surface can be a combination of soils, oils, grease and other polluting compounds. The combination of dirty soap and excess water runoff resulting from a car wash can contaminate local soils and waterways.
“Amid the state water crisis, it is important for the City of Long Beach to seek out new ways of permanently reducing water use,” said Kevin Wattier, General Manager for the Long Beach Water Department. “Instead of using potable water to wash these vehicles, waterless alternatives exist and can be explored through this pilot project.”
The waterless car wash cleaning products have been donated by Freedom Waterless Car Wash company for the 12-week pilot project. “Washing cars wastes water and creates run-off that drags pollutants into our storm drains leading to the ocean,” said David Elliot, founder of the Freedom Waterless Carwash company. “The waterless alternative is organic, non-toxic and saves water, time and money.”
The Waterless Car Wash pilot project is a partnership among the Office of Sustainability, the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Water Department.
Long Beach Water is an urban, Southern California retail water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
The Office of Sustainability develops and implements model sustainability programs for the City of Long Beach. For more information on the City’s sustainability programs, visit http://www.sustainablelb.com/
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