Environmental Award Presented to the City of Calgary
The City of Calgary has been awarded the first annual Environmental
Recognition Award by the Canadian Carwash Association (CCA) for the city’s ongoing
commitment to water treatment and conservation. By presenting this award, the CCA
has acknowledged that the City of Calgary has set a positive environmental example by
raising awareness about the environmental benefits of using professional carwashes.
"The City of Calgary is very pleased to receive the Canadian Carwash Association’s
Environmental Recognition Award for our continued water quality and water
conservation efforts," said Michael Meagher, Industrial Commercial Institutional
Customer Co-ordinator, Water Resources, City of Calgary. "The Drainage Bylaw and the
Sewer Service Bylaw we have in place helps to protect the quality of the water that is
entering the Bow River. These bylaws support the use of professional carwashes as an
alternative to driveway or lot washing because carwash wastewater is treated."
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| Michael Meagher, Industrial Commercial
Institutional Customer Co-ordinator, Water
Resources, City of Calgary receives award
from Nancy Schmautz, CCA Vice-President
Manufacturers/ Distributors/Suppliers. |
"A misconception I hear from my customers is that professional carwashes use more
water—that’s not the case," said Scott Murray, President, CCA; owner and operator,
Ezee Clean Carwash. "We are a highly regulated industry and we must comply with strict
regulations about water usage and waste. The used water from professional carwashes
goes into the sanitary system, which is then sent to a treatment plant. I’m glad the CCA
is bringing attention to the environmental benefits of professional carwashes," added
Murray.
The CCA enlisted the services of Leger Marketing to conduct a survey to determine
Canadians’ perception of car washing and the effects on the environment. The research
highlights the lack of awareness about the environmental impacts of driveway or lot car
washing. The survey also reveals that most respondents mistakenly think that water
goes to a water treatment plant when it enters storm drains on the street.
The CCA released the full results of the research during CARWACS 2011–Toronto on
March 24, 2011. During CARWACS 2011–Calgary on October 20, 2011, a panel of experts
will be on hand to discuss the benefits of using a professional carwash and its impact on
the environment.
"The survey findings reinforce what the Canadian carwash industry has been advocating
for years: using a professional carwash is an environmentally-friendly option for cleaning
your vehicle," said Jorge de Mendonça, Executive Director, CCA. "A part of our industry’s
task is to educate the public that washing your car in a driveway or lot sends soap and
other harmful chemicals into the storm sewer system, which could go directly into lakes
and rivers. This is the CCA’s opportunity to raise awareness about the environmental
benefits of using a professional carwash and the harmful impact that driveway and lot
car washing has on the environment."
The survey highlights include:
55 per cent of respondents believe there is no difference environmentally
whether they wash their vehicle in their driveway or take it through a carwash
48 per cent of respondents are unaware that most soapy water from driveway
car washing ends up untreated in nearby lakes or rivers when it goes down storm
drains
38 per cent of respondents wash their vehicles in their driveway
Professional carwashes are also environmentally-friendly because of initiatives like the
International Carwash Association’s (ICA) Watersavers™ program. This year the CCA
partnered with the ICA’s Watersavers™ program, a recognition program to help
professional carwashes promote their environmentally responsible business practices.
In order to participate in WaterSavers™, CCA member carwashes must implement water
management best practices. For more information about the Watersavers™ program,
please visit www.icawatersavers.org.
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