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Clean CommunitiesUncategorized

Vehicle Maintenance

Whether you just tinker around or oversee all your own maintenance, being a home car mechanic is a great way to save money and take care of your vehicle. It also requires responsible disposal of used fluids and parts to prevent harmful pollutants from entering our local waterways.

GOOD TO DO

Maintenance

  • If you discover spots in your driveway, or find that your fluids must be refilled between services, make repairs right away. Use a drip pan to catch any leaks until repairs are made
  • Place large drip pans under wrecked cars until all fluids are drained.
  • Change your oil away from storm drains and have old rags or cat litter available to respond in case of a spill.
  • Check your radiator hoses when changing your oil, and inspect your car at the first sign of a coolant leak. Used coolant should not be dumped down household drains because it contains chemicals that may cause problems for wastewater treatment plants. Instead, deliver used coolant to an auto parts store or hazardous waste collection facility.
  • Do not store used vehicle parts in areas that drain to a storm drain.

Cleanup

  • Clean up any leaks using a broom and dry absorbent materials, such as cat litter. Do not wash leaked fluids down garage or driveway surfaces into the street or storm drain.
  • Take your vehicle to a commercial car wash. This is actually the most environmentally-friendly way to clean your car. Car wash facilities are required to recycle water and discharge dirty water to the wastewater system instead of the stormwater system.
  • If you wash your car at home, it’s best to do so on grass or gravel to help absorb the water and filter out pollutants. If you must wash your car on a paved driveway or street, use soap sparingly and use a hose nozzle with flow restriction or a bucket and sponge to minimize runoff and save water. Empty dirty wash water into sinks or toilets instead of on the pavement.

Disposal

Donating

 

Only rain down the storm drain!

SEE WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Find the leak and fix the leak

How to save money and water

Pick up the poo for clean waterways

Take the Scoop-the-Poop Pledge

Remember paper, plastic bottles, metal cans...

Take our fun quiz!

 

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Bay Star Business Logo with the tagline working together for clean healthy waterways

IS YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS A BAY STAR?

We live in a beautiful region surrounded by water. It impacts everything from the food we eat to the fun we have as well as our economic livelihood. Our daily actions have a lasting impact and it's up to us to protect and restore our waterways. It takes a community of individuals making small changes to make a difference. Getting involved in the Bay Star programs is one way you can be part of the effort to protect our region's most defining natural resource, water.

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