Car wash stations face crackdown amid water crisis

EPA seals 159 outlets over non-compliance

LAHORE:

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a sweeping crackdown on car wash stations across the province for failing to install mandatory water recycling systems, as part of broader efforts to combat an escalating water crisis.

The move comes after the EPA imposed a province-wide ban last week on the establishment of new car wash stations to prevent further strain on Punjab's water resources.

The enforcement campaign was triggered by a Feb 28 deadline for compliance, targeting 3,525 car wash facilities ordered to adopt water-saving systems. According to EPA officials, the initiative is intended to curb excessive water consumption amid mounting drought conditions. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that rainfall in Punjab from Sept 1, 2024, to Jan 15, 2025, was 42% below average.

As of this week, the EPA has issued notices to 2,557 stations, shut down 322, and sealed 159 for non-compliance. Fines exceeding Rs600,000 have been imposed. Meanwhile, 646 facilities have installed the required recycling systems.

The crackdown follows an order issued on Feb 12 by EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, which also mandates a Rs100,000 penalty for non-compliant petrol pumps. In a related measure, the government has banned vehicle washing at private residences, with violators facing fines.

To further protect the province's depleting water reserves, the EPA last week issued a directive - under Section 6(1)(t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 - implementing an immediate and complete ban on the establishment of new car wash stations. The order, signed by Dr Sheikh, grants the agency legal authority to enforce environmental protection and sustainable development policies.

"Effective immediately, this order shall remain in force until modified or withdrawn," the EPA stated. The directive further warned that violations would be punishable under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Highlighting the environmental toll of commercial car washing, the EPA noted that traditional stations use approximately 400 liters of water per vehicle - a level deemed unsustainable under current conditions.