Motorists On Water SOS
- Avoiding ban on car wash
Car owners are being urged to ‘do their bit’ as the threat of hosepipe bans becomes a reality. 
Experts estimate that the average household can save up to 14* gallons in cleaning their cars more consciously. The first day of Spring (March 20) signals the start of the traditional British Sunday morning car wash. More than 6m will grab the sponge and chamois this weekend alone. With 57 percent admitting to using a hosepipe**, a change of habit is needed, says leading car care company, Comma. According to the Environment Agency, reservoir levels in the South are 46 percent below capacity compared to just 6 percent in Wales.
Top Five Tips to save water
- Clean from the top down
- Always wash in the shade to avoid drying marks and repeat cleaning
- Wring sponge or chamois out over the bucket
- Use a sponge to wash down with one hand, and a chamois in the other to dry off immediately
- Wash your car after a rain shower – the car will already be wet, so you won’t need to rinse it first
Comma suggests motorists can save up to 84m gallons and still get that showroom shine by cleaning their car with just two buckets of water (average bucket equals approx 3 gallons). "You really only need one to clean and another to wash down," says Comma spokesman, Mike Bewsey. Car owners in East Anglia are the worst offenders for wasting water with more than 80 percent opting for the hosepipe according to Comma research. Conversely, Greater London - one of the regions affected by the Thames Water ban – are the most conscious with 83 percent choosing the bucket. Unsurprisingly, the decision to use a hose or bucket is also influenced by water meters – 67 percent of households on meters wash with a bucket compared to 43% of those who pay through regular billing. *Source - Three Valley Water Company. Correct as of 25 February 2005. ** Comma research conducted during December 2004. Sample size of 474.
March 15th, 2006