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Authorities are warning car owners to be mindful of where the water run-off ends up when washing vehicles at home if they wish to avoid a hefty fine.
The warning comes after one social media user expressed surprise upon learning that a friend received a fine for washing their car on an Auckland driveway late last year. The RedNote post attracted hundreds of comments.
Amendments to the 1991 Resource Management Act introduced stiffer penalties for individuals and companies polluting waterways, poisoning aquatic life or damaging habitats in September.
Individuals discharging contaminants such as cleaning products into stormwater systems face fines of $1500, while companies can be fined $3000.
The fine individuals faced if they contaminated stormwater systems before the September amendment was $750.
Jesse Hindt, acting compliance manager at Auckland Council, said car owners should be aware of wider environmental impacts when washing vehicles on sealed surfaces.
"On concrete surfaces like driveways or the road, wash water will generally flow into our stormwater system, which drains directly into streams, rivers and the sea," Hindt said.
The water could carry detergents, oil, fuel residues, metals and dirt that contaminate waterways, poisoning aquatic life and damaging habitats, he said.
"Even biodegradable detergents pollute waterways," Hindt said.
"To prevent this from happening, the council advises people to wash their vehicles on unsealed ground such as gravel or grass or divert run-off to unsealed ground using sandbags."
EcoMatters Environment Trust chief executive Carla Gee Photo: Supplied
Carla Gee, chief executive at EcoMatters Environment Trust, said people who were unable to wash their cars on unsealed ground could bring vehicles to a commercial car wash that would discharge the run-off into a wastewater system that was treated.
"Stormwater drains are only for rain," she said. "They flow through streams to the sea, so don't put anything in there that you wouldn't want in your kaimoana (seafood)."
Pour dirty water into toilets or sinks instead so it would be discharged into the sewage system and treated, Gee said.
"We love our rivers and beaches, and we want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy them," she said.
"When our streams get polluted, fish and shellfish can die or become sick with toxins, and our waterways can become too dangerous to swim in."
Auckland Council also warned organisers of community car washes that used a large quantity of wash water, including fundraising events, to ensure the run-off did not enter the stormwater system.
Organisers were advised to cover and block any stormwater catchpits, divert wash water to unsealed ground or ask Watercare for permission to discharge to the sewer system, and block the catchpit outflow and remove excess water with a wet vacuum.
"If you cannot find a suitable location, check with local self-serve car wash businesses and ask to use one of their stalls to conduct the car wash fundraiser," the council said.
A spokesperson from the Ministry for the Environment said households should check local government regulations if they were unsure about potentially committing an offence by discharging water or potential contaminants from their property into stormwater systems.
"Individuals and businesses have responsibilities to prevent contaminant discharge to help improve the water quality and the health of our waterways," the spokesperson said.
