HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCSD 08-14 RESOLUTION NO. OCSD 08-14
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ORANGE
COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT, PROCLAIMING "NO DRUGS DOWN
THE DRAIN WEEK"
WHEREAS, The United States Geological Survey conducted a study in 2002
sampling 139 streams across 30 states and found that 80 percent had measurable
concentrations of prescription and nonprescription drugs, steroids, and reproductive
hormones;
WHEREAS, Articles reported by the Associated Press in March of 2008 have
corroborated the findings of the United States Geological Survey;
WHEREAS, Exposure, even to low levels of drugs, has been shown to have
negative effects on fish and other aquatic species;
WHEREAS, The effects of trace concentrations of drugs in the environment on
human health are unknown;
WHEREAS, A pathway for prescription and nonprescription drugs to enter the
environment is the disposal of unwanted and unused drugs down drains that lead to
community sewer systems, which convey untreated wastewater to municipal
wastewater treatment facilities;
WHEREAS, Many of these municipal wastewater treatment facilities discharge to
surface waters in the state;
WHEREAS, Municipal wastewater treatment facilities remove some, but may not
remove all, of the drugs that enter the community sewer systems;
WHEREAS, The safest methods of disposal of unwanted drugs are not well
understood by the public and therefore a public education campaign is necessary to
educate consumers;
WHEREAS, A coalition of federal, state, and local agencies and private
organizations are organizing a statewide public education campaign from October 4 to
October 11, 2008, inclusive, to encourage the public not to flush unwanted drugs down
the drain;
WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the state to encourage the public not to
flush unwanted drugs down the drain;
WHEREAS, The Legislature has directed the California Integrated Waste
Management Board to adopt model programs for the proper collection and disposal of
drug waste and to provide recommendations to the Legislature for the implementation of
a statewide program by December 1, 2010;
WHEREAS, During No Drugs Down the Drain Week, the public will be educated
about the currently available safe disposal options for unwanted drugs; and,
WHEREAS, Information about No Drugs Down the Drain Week is available at
www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org.
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Sanitation
District Board of Directors proclaim the week of October 4 to October 11, 2008,
inclusive, as "No Drugs Down the Drain Week", to raise awareness among the public
about the environmental problems caused by flushing unwanted drugs down the drain
and to encourage the use of proper disposal methods.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held August 27, 2008.
Chair
ATTEST:
Clerk of t e Boar