Vesthimmerlands Municipality urges residents to avoid washing cars at home

Residents in Vesthimmerlands Municipality are being strongly advised to stop washing their cars at home due to environmental risks, DR reports.

The municipality warns that soap, oil, and dirt from home car washes can flow untreated into streams, lakes, and fjords, harming fish and insects. The alert comes as part of a new campaign targeting households in areas with separate stormwater and sewage systems.

In these areas, rainwater—including runoff from car washing—is not treated before entering natural waterways. Allan Ritter (K), chair of the municipality’s technical, environmental, and climate committee, emphasised that residents share responsibility for protecting the environment.

Separate drainage systems require collective effort

Vesthimmerlands Municipality has invested heavily in separating stormwater and sewage systems to prevent untreated wastewater from overflowing into nature during heavy rain. With the upgrade nearly complete, Ritter noted that residents must now adjust their habits to avoid polluting waterways.

“We’ve spent significant resources on protecting our environment through separate drainage. Now, we’re asking citizens to take collective responsibility,” he said, urging drivers to use professional car washes instead.

The campaign, set to be distributed via digital mailboxes, is framed as a friendly reminder rather than an enforcement measure. While Danish environmental law prohibits discharging pollutants like soap and oil into waterways, Ritter stressed that the municipality prefers voluntary compliance over penalties.

“We’re not here to act as police. It’s difficult to monitor and enforce. We simply want to appeal to common sense,” he said.

Other Danish municipalities, including Aarhus and Aalborg, have issued similar warnings about the environmental impact of home car washing.