Washing your car in your driveway, or on any paved surface, allows the soapy water and dirt from your car to quickly enter a stormdrain. From there, it goes directly to local waters.

• The best way to reduce pollution from car washing, though, is to wash your car at a commercial car wash facility. They are required to collect and dispose of the wash water properly.


• If a car wash isn’t an option, simply washing your car on a more permeable surface such as the lawn or a gravel driveway can help keep that pollution out of stormdrains.

For more information, check out our factsheet, Making Auto Care Stormwater-Friendly.

Pouring oil out anywhere is a threat to drinking water supplies and the waters that we Rhode Islanders love to fish, boat, and swim! If you change your own oil, it needs to be recycled:

• Drain it into a container with a tight-fitting cap.


• Take the used oil to a transfer station in your community or to a local auto parts shop. Most will collect the oil from you. For a list of contact information for transfer stations in Rhode Island, visit the Department of Environmental Management’s Licensed Facilities List.

For more information, check out our factsheet, Making Auto Care Stormwater-Friendly.