Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi City Municipality has issued 119 tickets to people washing cars in public places during the past nine months.

The municipality is reminding the public that people who wash cars in public places will be fined Dh500.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality’s Public Health Division is running a campaign to raise awareness about this illegal practice, which wastes water and undermines the city’s image.

Khalifa Mohammad Al Rumaithi, Director of Public Health, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said this practice affects public health as the waste water creates a breeding ground for insects such as mosquitoes.

He said the practice consumes a large amount of water that floods streets and low-lying areas. The water also damages asphalt roads, the official said.

The civic body is following up all warnings issued to violators to ensure that they comply with regulations.

Al Rumaithi stressed the importance of preserving the vital resource of water.

The campaign aims to maintain the cleanliness of the city and its aesthetic appearance, as well as safety aspects. It also aims to reduce environmental pollution and associated negative impacts, Al Rumaithi said.

As Gulf News reported, Dubai and Sharjah Municipalities have also been taking stern action against violators.

Residents said the municipal campaign will help maintain public health, especially the well-being of children. Water-logged streets affect children who go to school early in the morning (as violators wash cars late at night or early in the day), said Ernesto Refugio, 58, a Filipino civil engineer, who has been living in the city for 20 years.

It is best to take cars to be washed at garages, he said. But he has noticed a common practice among residents is to depend on their building’s watchman to get the job done.

“It is important to uphold the aim of the civic rule. Those who are compelled to clean cars on their building’s premises due to practical reasons shouldn’t pollute the environment by using excessive water,” he said.

Mohammad Islam, 28, a Bangladeshi watchman who cleans cars for residents, said it can be done without polluting the environment.

“You are caught if you use too much water only,” he said.