We have had some recent input from community members on a particularly dirty issue; (Please pardon the pun...)

According to the City of Calgary's website on water drainage; "The City recommends using a commercial car wash to clean your vehicle. Commercial car washes drain to the City’s wastewater treatment facility where the wastewater is cleaned and treated. If you do wash your car in the driveway or street, you cannot use soap. Use water only and ensure that dirt or oil from your car does not get washed down the storm drain."

Also appearing on the site; in the storm-drain "prohibited items list" is the item "soaps or detergents (including biodegradable products)."

If you see someone washing their car in the driveway and dirt and/or oil are not being stopped from going down the storm drain; please call 311 to report the issue.  If you happen to have a camera, digital pictures are good evidence and bylaw officers can act on/with them.

Also from their site: "Failure to comply with the Drainage Bylaw could result in: contaminants or pollutants being released into our rivers obstructions in the storm drainage system (e.g. blocked swales or sewer backup in the pipe system); and flooding. Failure to comply with the Drainage Bylaw can also result in fines ranging from $75 to $10,000 and/or remedial orders."