Click to watch Courtney Zubowski's 11 News report

HOUSTON -- You may be breaking the law and not even know it.

The Clean Water Act is designed to clean up our waters.

Thousands of people pass through METRO Transit Centers every day, but 11 News discovered that what they’re leaving behind could end up in Galveston Bay.

One of the act’s guidelines says you must prevent dirty water from going down storm drains. Regularly scheduled pressure washing goes on at all 19 METRO transit centers throughout the county.

“It was our understanding we were in compliance,” METRO spokeswoman Raequel Roberts said.

But 11 News uncovered they aren’t in compliance.

“The rules really require us to take all available measures to protect the water around us, and the storm sewer system is how all the water gets to the bayou,” Deputy Director of Public Works Andy Icken said.

Here’s one way you can do it: Collect the potentially contaminated water.

Think it’s a lot of work for nothing? Think again. There are high levels of oil, grease, metals and bacteria polluting Galveston Bay.

Galveston Bay is the second most productive estuary for seafood in the country.

“The smaller fish start to eat it, it can collect in their bodies, bigger fish eat those small fish and then ultimately we eat the big fish, so it’s a way for it to get into our bodies,” said Bob Stokes with the Galveston Bay Foundation.

The Clean Water Act has been around for 36 years, and the Houston Police Department has been investigating pressure washing violations for just about two years.

Fines for violators can range from $1,000 to $250,000 a day.  

But a lot of people are confused and little frustrated by the laws.

“Obviously the application of the law seems a little inconsistent,” attorney David Adler said. He represents Thunderbolt Properties, the longtime Houston business known for its catchy jingle. It was raided in April and accused of dumping oil solvents, and sometimes gasoline, down the storm drains.

While the allegations are obviously much more severe, they are a direct violation of the Clean Water Act.

“It’s frustrating; you’re accused of something you haven’t done, and as I said, there are many witnesses with what we’re talking about with Metro, and they are not facing any consequences whatsoever,” Adler said.

According to HPD complaints lead to their investigations, which led them to Thunderbolt. Investigators hadn’t heard about what 11 News found at the METRO transit centers until we told them.

They said, “They’ll look into it.”

Meanwhile, the city just published “cosmetic wash water guidelines.” It defines a set of procedures that should make the laws easier for people to understand.

You could face violations for just washing your car at home.

“You really don’t want soap and all those things going into the city storm system,” Icken said.

After our investigation, a Metro spokesperson said they plan to change their procedures.

“Now we have a better idea of exactly what is needed to follow the regulations, and we’re going to do that,” Roberts said.

They’ll work to clean up the transit centers and the environment at the same time.