To the Editor,
The City of Nanaimo has watering restrictions limiting the days and times you can water your plants and these are logical and productive.
Watering plants between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is ill advised, since much of the water would be lost to evaporation. However, these same time limitations apply to washing your car.
I quizzed the city staff as to why one is not allowed to wash a car during the hours, when it would dry the fastest, since this rule seems so illogical. Their explanation was that time is used by the city to rebalance its water reservoirs.
Apparently you can take any length of shower, fill your hot tub, do any number of loads of wash or have your car professionally washed during this time period, but if you wash your own car it would be impossible for the city to keep its reservoirs balanced.
Is it not about time this pointless timing restriction on car washing is reviewed and we let logic prevail?
Some people might feel that washing cars is a waste of water. Yet in many countries driving a dirty car is illegal.
Are these countries populated by neat freaks? No, they are concerned that the dirt on vehicles could transport pathogens, moulds and other agricultural pests from one area to another.
A clean car helps avoid this plus the finish will last longer reducing the need to repaint with all the emissions that entails.
S.I. Petersen
Nanaimo
