The Summit County Surface Water Management District (SWMD) has created its “On the Road to Clean Water” graphics for each month of 2026, featuring a different educational topic to help residents better understand and protect local water resources.

This month’s topic highlights how the way we wash our vehicles can affect the health of our local streams, rivers, and lakes. While washing a car at home may seem like a harmless weekend chore, the water that runs off driveways and streets can carry pollutants into nearby storm drains, where it often reaches local waterways without being treated.

Choosing a commercial car wash is a simple way to help reduce the amount of pollution entering our waterways. Many commercial facilities are designed to properly manage wastewater and use water more efficiently, making them a more environmentally friendly option.

Making small changes to everyday routines can have a lasting impact on protecting our local water resources. By being mindful of where and how we wash our vehicles, we can all do our part to help keep our waterways clean.

Click here to visit the SWMD website!