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Medford resident Margie Prevatt knew pouring chemicals into the storm-water system was illegal, but it never occurred to her that washing her blue Dodge Dynasty also could be a violation if any of the sudsy water ran into a storm drain. "I hadn't thought about soap because it's biodegradable," said Prevatt, who vacuumed her automobile at a car wash on Riverside Avenue, "but you can see I haven't washed it in a while." A Medford city ordinance forbids pouring, draining or allowing runoff of any substance into a storm drain because the drains flow into Bear Creek rather than a sewer system. The detergent from washing a car can cause algae to bloom and rob oxygen from fish. Violating the ordinance can carry a fine of up to $1,000. "Nothing should go into a storm drain," said Cory Crebbin, Medford public works director. "It doesn't matter what it is." Word has spread through the Medford Public Works Department's newsletter — and subsequent TV reports — about the risk of violating the ordinance by washing a car near a storm drain. Medford police said they have not issued any fines for washing a vehicle near a storm drain. However, if there was a complaint, code enforcement would respond, police officials said. "We are not on car-wash patrol, but if we get a complaint we have to deal with it," said Medford Deputy Police Chief Tim George. Officials emphasized it's not illegal to wash a car on a driveway, parking lot or street; it's only a violation if the soapy water flows into a storm drain. If the runoff water evaporates on the street, is collected and disposed of in a sewer system or absorbs into soil, it is acceptable, they said. Safe alternatives for washing a car include going to a professional car wash, washing the vehicle on the lawn or other location where soil will absorb the runoff, or restricting the amount of water used to prevent runoff, officials suggested. "My driveway runs into the lawn, so I can wash my car in my driveway," Crebbin said. Medford resident Lori Smith said she has never washed her red Dodge Durango at home because her mobile home park doesn't allow it. "I don't know why," Smith said. "I just figured it was because of water pressure." She washes her vehicle about every two weeks at a car wash. Car washes typically have a recycling or filtering system to comply with the ordinance. E. O. Wilson, an attendant at the car wash on Riverside, said he didn't know it was illegal to allow soapy water to run into a storm drain. The car wash has a settling pit that allows pollutants to rise to the top and keeps them out of the storm system, he said. "Hopefully, the word will spread, and business will pick up," Wilson joked. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or [email protected].