Just curious. Saw a carwash fundraising for a church happening at the corner of Church and Welburn. I thought we got in trouble for washing our cars. Guess people don’t get the picture. This is on 4/12.
Red Phone:
Red Phone is happy to look into this seemingly inappropriate behavior, good caller, in times of drought. However, you may not have the correct reason, although you did hit on another issue with washing cars. Red Phone contacted City Hall and found the following information.
Gilroy Public Works Operations Manager David Stubchaer explained, “Currently, under Level 1 drought restrictions, you can wash a vehicle as long as you have a positive shut-off (an on/off nozzle) on the hose. You can’t just let the hose run while you soap the car up. However, it is illegal at all times (drought or no drought) to let soapy water from car washing go into the gutter or storm drain. There is no exemption from this law for non-profits. If you wash your car on your lawn, or a fairly flat surface, where the water soaks in rather than going into the storm drain, which would be okay.” So, good caller, it is illegal to let soapy wash water run into the storm drains, however, private car washing is still okay—just follow the rules.
Under proposed Level 2 Water Shortage restrictions, which may soon be adopted by the city, non-profit organizations can still have car washes—but at allowable venues only. Stubchaer explained, “Vehicle washing will be prohibited except at a commercial car wash that recirculates their water. I have heard of non-profits working with a commercial car wash to buy car wash gift certificates at a discount, and selling them for full face value. That way, the non-profit makes some money, without breaking the drought or water pollution rules, and the car wash may get more business in the future. You’d have to find a commercial car wash willing to do that, of course.”
According to Henry Servin, in the Public Works Department, “We are headed toward a more complete discussion on the water savings issue at the May 4 city council meeting.” So, good caller, Red Phone thanks you for your diligence in reporting this incident, and providing Red Phone the opportunity to spread the word to non-profit organizations wishing to raise money with car washes.
