Lisa Abernathy

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet can pass through the treatment system and enter rivers and lakes. They may flow downstream to serve as sources for community drinking water supplies. Research has demonstrated reproductive and developmental issues in fish and other wildlife exposed to pharmaceutical compounds. Find a Drug Take Back Day on DEA's website (https://takebackday.dea.gov/). To find more permanent collection programs, see DEA's authorized collector locator (https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1). If you can’t find a collection program follow these instructions (https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100ZW8A.PDF?Dockey=P100ZW8A.PDF) for disposal or consider creating a medicine take back program in your community (https://iiseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Willingness-to-Pay.pdf)!

Runoff from leaking vehicles wreaks havoc on aquatic ecosystems. ‘Don’t Drip & Drive’! Instead learn how to quickly diagnose and repair common vehicle leaks by observing the color, texture, and location of the fluid. This guide (https://fixcarleaks.org/diagnose/) can help you diagnose your leak and you can find certified, participating repair shops who offer a free visual leak inspection (https://fixcarleaks.org/shop-locator/) on this page.

Commercial car washes use about half the water of a driveway wash. Plus, they recycle their water or ensure it drains to a sewer system (so it gets treated before the residues from exhaust, gas and motor oil, road salt and soap washed off your car are released into the environment). A commercial car wash is really best. But if you really want to wash your car at home, it’s possible to clean the car without dirtying the environment, find those tips at Puget Sound Starts Here.

As we drive, tires wear down, leaving tiny bits of rubber and plastic on our roads. The chemicals in those bits are toxic to fish. Although there isn’t currently a replacement for rubber, you can help by ensuring your tires are properly inflated, which reduces the amount of tire particles shed on the road and has the co-benefit of improving your mileage. Taking care of your tires is the best thing drivers can do to reduce wear and prevent tire pollution.