Editor:
I write in concern over the article in last week’s edition stating that the Splash ’n Shine car wash in Sechelt will need to close when Stage 3 water restrictions are implemented. A bit of calculation indicates that the self-service bays of the car wash use approximately 30 litres per wash – laudable when washing on a driveway or using the full service bay uses approximately five times that. Unfortunately, we all have neighbours who believe car washing is a right, not a necessity, and it concerns me that these owners wash their vehicles, most of which have been driven less that 100 km locally and are garage stored, on a weekly basis. There is no need for this. A bit of dust is not going to harm your vehicle and does not need to be removed weekly.
And that is what concerns me about the story last week, specifically the owner’s comment: “If you can’t wash your car in your driveway, you need to be able to wash it somewhere.” Need, of course, being the operative word here. Needs are things like housing, safety, food, etc. Car washing is not a need, unless there is the likelihood of damage related to corrosion, etc. – and I applaud the decision to not allow the car wash to remain open during Stage 3.
I only wish they had also put a restriction on driveway washing and using the Splash ’n Shine full service bay in Stage 2, as 150 litres times innumerable washes goes an awfully long way to keeping vegetation healthy and putting food on tables.
In the meantime I hope that all vehicle owners, car lots, garages, etc., will act responsibly and limit their car washing to when it is required, to maintain the integrity of the exterior finish, and not because washing weekly is something you’ve always done.
Denise Clarke-Ames, Sechelt
