Survey says: We all pollute the Bay
- By David Lewis
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Have you ever lost a plastic bag to the wind, washed your car in your driveway, or neglected to pick up your pet’s waste? If so, you’ve likely polluted San Francisco Bay like many other residents.A recent Internet survey conducted by Save The Bay showed that common activities — including driving and dumping old medicines down the drain -are harming the Bay.
In fact, the Internet survey at ikeepitclean.org revealed that 95 percent of the 1,700 respondents from around the Bay Area contribute to Bay pollution and could change at least one everyday habit to protect the Bay from pollution.
The majority of new Bay pollution comes from non-point source pollution or storm drain runoff, and that means toxins such as motor oil, heavy metals, trash and bacteria flow unfiltered from our neighborhoods straight to the Bay. The US EPA lists non-point source pollution as the largest source of water quality problems in the nation. Nearly half of the survey respondents (42 percent) said they washed their car in the driveway or along the curb, or let the rain rinse it, rather than taking it to a professional carwash, which is required to treat dirty wastewater. When you wash your car on pavement, soapy water, motor oil, copper and other heavy metals are washed down the storm drains, which bypass wastewater treatment plants and flow straight into creeks and the Bay.
Eighty-eight percent of survey respondents said they threw away unwanted pharmaceuticals, flushed them, or just held onto them. Only 12 percent said they took medicine to a household hazardous waste facility, the best disposal method. Wastewater treatment plants were not designed to treat medicine and allow many chemicals to pass through untreated to the Bay. Scientists are now able to detect low concentrations of pharmaceuticals, such as painkillers, antidepressants and hormones, in creeks and bays. Early studies indicate that these drugs interfere with normal behavior and reproduction in fish.
Another habit that can be harmful to the Bay is driving, and nearly half (46 percent) of the respondents admitted to driving every day.
According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, each car-owning Bay Area resident contributes about one quart of motor oil to the Bay every year. In an average year, car engine leaks and road runoff contribute more oil to coastal waters than oil tanker spills. Car pollutants disrupt natural habitats and can be toxic to the Bay’s more than 500 species.
Garbage pollution also poses a huge threat to the Bay’s wildlife. On average, three pieces of trash can be found along every foot of streams leading into the Bay, and more than 200,000 pounds of garbage was removed from the shoreline on last year’s Coastal Cleanup Day.
Wildlife that accidentally eat plastic can be suffocated or starve from lack of nutrients.
The good news is that because we create this pollution, we have the power to diminish it. Our quality of life and economy depend on a healthy and clean San Francisco Bay. We are all responsible for protecting the Bay and can take easy steps to reduce pollution like picking up after ourselves and others as we visit our beautiful Bay and ocean beaches this summer.
Here are some other tips:
• Keep your car well maintained to prevent oil and other leaks.
• Use a car wash. All professional car washes are required to send dirty water to a wastewater treatment plant.
• Dispose of old medicine and mercury-containing items at a hazardous household waste facility.
• Always pick up your pet’s waste.
• To learn how to responsibly dispose of motor oil, hazardous waste, e-waste, mercury-containing items and more visit: ikeepitclean.org.
David Lewis is the executive director of Save The Bay.