Fact-check me on sandblasting, would you?

They will run you out if they catch you, and you'll be asked not to return, usually under threat of the law.
the quarter car wash that I use is attached to a full service car wash,, by law the water run off is collected and cleaned to what ever the law requires prior to discharge into the sewers. At most car washes at least a portion of the water used is recycled.

How Car Washes Work

If there was a mess on the walls / floor I take a little bit of time to rinse down the bay when finished,, never had a problem.

Perhaps the car wash bay that you used is discharging directly into a sewer or near by stream, in that case there would be a problem.