Pesticides and Water Quality

Pesticides reach creeks and rivers through storm drains and household drains

• When you apply a pesticide or fertilizer outdoors, some of the material may move to other locations.
• Storm drains are frequently located in streets. Rain and runoff from garden and lawn irrigation runs down the streets through gutters into the storm drains. In most California cities, the runoff flows through pipes directly into our creeks, rivers, and oceans.
  
• Sewers run from drains within the home and carry wastewater from toilets, sinks, and showers to treatment plants.

Wastewater treatment plants do not detoxify pesticides

• While wastewater treatment plants send incoming wastewater through a thorough treatment and disinfectant process before releasing water into the river, they do not actually detoxify pesticides, thus sending residue into our waterways.
  

How to avoid problems

• Use alternatives to pesticides when possible.
• If you must use pesticides, follow all instructions on the product label for proper use and be sure to store and dispose of all pesticides properly.

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Illustration by Celeste Rusconi