UAE motorists green choice: A cup of water to wash your car\u2026<\/p>\n
Or do you still need buckets? Sharjah crackdown on over-use of water raises eco-friendly choices<\/p>\n
Sharjah is fining residents using illegal car washers, as well as any individual using excessive water when washing a car, or even a section of an apartment block.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A car owner using an illegal service can be fined Dh250.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Residents or watchmen washing a car, building, or entrance of a building can be fined Dh500.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the arguments behind the rule is that such methods result on excessive use of water.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But, how much water does a car wash require?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This totally depends on the method.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to a graph prepared by Ecowashme, a car wash provider that washes your car with only 250 ml of water, it is the home wash that is guilty of the most excessive water use.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“If I wash my car in front of my house, I would use a hose to do so. I would not use a bucket,” says S. Kumar, a Dubai resident, contemplating if the assumption is correct.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, the do-it-yourself spirit is not likely to be found in the UAE and most people will opt for a car wash service.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According Ecowashme\u2019s graph the manual car wash comes in second.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When seeing your car surrounded by water-sprouting equipment it is not hard to imagine that considerable water consumption is at stake.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But the consumption varies greatly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Whereas one car wash uses 25 litres per saloon car and 35 for a four-wheel drive, some do not exceed 5 litres.<\/p>\n
“We used to wash a car with 3-4 litres of water.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we are applying the waterless car wash, which requires only 500ml of water per car,” says the manager of Clean Car Services.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eco-friendly car wash companies have sprung up during the last couple of years in the UAE.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With as little as a cup of water, these companies provide you a clean and shiny car.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, price plays a role too. Regardless of the fines many people feel comfortable leaving their car in the hands of the old-fashioned bucket washer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“I pay a monthly Dh100 to somebody who washes my car three times a week,” says S. Kumar.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And the water consumption of the bucket washer takes an honorable second place, right behind the eco-friendly car wash.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI use sometimes one, sometimes two buckets of water per car,\u201d says a Sri Lankan expat who regularly washes cars to earn an extra buck.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI use one bucket to soap the car, and then another one to rinse it. But, if the car is not very dirty, I only use one bucket.\u201d<\/p>\n
A watchman offering the service in his local neighborhood says he uses only one bucket per car wash<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UAE motorists green choice: A cup of water to wash your car\u2026 Or do you still need buckets? Sharjah crackdown on over-use of water raises eco-friendly choices Sharjah is fining residents using illegal car washers, as well as any individual using excessive water when washing a car, or even a section of an apartment block. …<\/p>\n