Car wash fundraisers banned in Abbotsford

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) - Car wash fundraisers are out in Abbotsford. The ban comes as the city looks to save water in the summer.

It was discovered after a grade 4 class at Centennial Park Elementary wanted to hold a car wash to raise money for the SPCA. The class sent a letter to city hall to invite them to the event and their plans went down the drain.

Dave Steven is with the Abbotsford School District and says " I know they had had it last year, and I think they were looking forward to doing it again. But the teacher is being able to use it as a teachable moment for the kids too, to explain the reasons are that they are trying to preserve the water and to make sure only clean water goes into storm sewers."

Tracy Kyle works for the city and says the summer charity car wash ban was brought in this April because of a water shortage seen in the dryer months. "On out peak days last year, even with an outdoor watering ban...we were at about 90 per cent of our capacity. We are working to get another water source online and that could take another five years."

The class has decided to raise money through an ice cream cone sale instead.