Document text
Click Here 46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, February 1, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 25, 2004 Since You Asked Tips for an eco-friendly car wash Last month the city of Medford adopted an ordinance making it a crime to put pollutants into the storm drain. I was washing my car last weekend, letting soapy water flow down my driveway and into the storm drain, and I was wondering if I could get handcuffs slapped on me. — Katherine H., Medford Well, Katherine, according to Larry Beskow at Medford Public Works, the topic of car soap has really bubbled up recently. In December, the City Council adopted an addition to the stormwater ordinance that makes the discharge of pollutants (i.e. grass clippings, anti-freeze and toxic waste) a crime punishable by a fine of $1,000 per occurrence and imprisonment not exceeding a year. Larry said most cities that have a similar ordinance ignore the single person who washes a car in the driveway. Advertisement "Most cities don’t want to bite the bullet," said Beskow. Medford city staff members have been tossing around the idea of avoiding that bullet, too. Beskow said the biggest concern is when students or other groups hold car washes in public lots, where a lot of suds — also known as nitrogen and phosphorus — go down the drain directly into streams. He said the city is looking into creating a couple of places in Medford where car wash fund-raisers could still be held and the water would get treated. Larry advises that when washing your car, use non-phosphorus soap, dump your soapy bucket into your sink instead of down the driveway, and on dry days, wash your car on your lawn. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times