Abstract<br />Water scarcity is one of the most pressing global environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century. Among the various human activities contributing to water stress, car washing represents a significant but often overlooked source of water waste. This article explores the quantities of water consumed in car washing globally and in Iraq, placing the issue within the broader context of the global water crisis. It also presents estimates comparing water used for car washing with that used for drinking and with total global freshwater resources, before concluding with practical recommendations, especially for countries like Iraq.<br />1. Introduction<br />As the demand for water increases due to population growth and urbanization, it is crucial to identify everyday practices that contribute to excessive water consumption. Car washing, though often underestimated, consumes massive volumes of water daily, especially in areas where traditional washing methods are still widespread. This article provides an overview of global and Iraqi car washing water consumption and evaluates its significance within global freshwater supply and drinking water consumption.<br />2. Water Use in Car Washing – Global Figures<br />The amount of water used to wash a single car varies depending on the method:<br /><br />- Traditional hand washing: 100–150 liters per car<br />- In-bay automatic washing: 150–190 liters per car<br />- Conveyor-type car washes: up to 450 liters per car<br /><br />With billions of cars being washed annually, the total volume of water used globally is staggering. Estimates suggest over 1,000 billion cubic meters (1,000 km³) of water are consumed annually in this activity.<br />3. Water Consumption for Car Washing vs. Drinking Water<br />- Drinking water consumption per person: ~3 liters/day<br />- Global population: ~8 billion<br />- Global annual drinking water use: ~8,760 km³<br />- Estimated annual car washing water use: ~1,000 km³<br />- Ratio: Water used for car washing represents about 11.4% of global drinking water consumption.<br />4. Car Washing vs. Global Freshwater Availability<br />- Total global renewable freshwater resources: ~14,000 km³<br />- Proportion used for car washing: ~7.1% of total global freshwater<br /><br />This demonstrates that a single non-essential activity accounts for a measurable portion of the world’s usable water supply.<br />5. The Iraqi Context<br />Iraq faces severe water challenges due to upstream damming, climate change, and inefficient water management. In cities like Basra, water crises have reached critical levels, affecting public health. Yet, water continues to be used inefficiently in urban practices such as car washing.<br /><br />In many Iraqi cities, car washing is often performed manually using hoses connected to the municipal supply. With hundreds of thousands of vehicles and little regulatory oversight, this contributes significantly to municipal water stress.<br />6. Recommendations<br />To address this issue, several strategies should be implemented:<br /><br />1. Promote water-efficient washing technologies: Encourage use of closed-loop systems that recycle water, reducing use by up to 95%.<br />2. Encourage public transport: Reducing the number of private vehicles leads to less demand for car washing.<br />3. Implement regulations: Enforce limits on water use for car washing and require car washes to install recycling systems.<br />4. Public awareness campaigns: Educate the public about the water impact of daily habits and promote conservation.<br />7. Conclusion<br />Car washing, while seemingly minor, is a substantial contributor to water wastage globally and in countries like Iraq. In the face of an escalating global water crisis, it is critical to revisit our urban consumption patterns. Addressing this issue through modern technologies, transport policy, and regulatory frameworks could yield significant environmental benefits and help preserve freshwater for essential needs.<br />References<br />- “Clean vehicles, polluted waters: empirical estimates of water consumption and pollution loads of the carwash industry in Kumasi, Ghana.” ScienceDirect.<br />- “UN Iraq aims for 30 percent less water consumption under UNAMI-UNICEF conservation project.” United Nations Iraq.<br />- “Basra is Thirsty: Iraq's Failure to Manage the Water Crisis.” Human Rights Watch.<br />- “Water Use, Evaporation and Carryout in Professional Car Washes.” International Carwash Association.<br />- “Environmental impact of car wash services by performing life cycle assessment.” Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management.<br />- “Water distribution on Earth.” Wikipedia.<br />- “Water Use Statistics.” Worldometer.<br />- “Daily consumption of drinking water.” Wikipedia.<br />- “Vehicle washing methods and water volumes used for washing.” ResearchGate<br />