Water Pollution
Pharmaceuticals
Impaired Waters
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
This fact sheet describes the state’s impaired waters process and has information on the Clean Water Legacy Act.
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/wq-iw3-09.pdf
EPA Water Quality Video Contest
US Environmental Protection Agency
In March 2009 EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds launched a Water Quality Video Contest to inspire environmental stewardship and educate the public on ways individuals can improve water quality in their community. View the winning videos.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html
The Water We Drink: Small Community Outreach Campaign
National Environmental Services Center
This website provides links to fact sheets and brochures about how to keep drinking water clean and safe focusing on pharmaceuticals and personal care products in our waterways. The site also links to federal guidelines and other reference articles on drinking water.
http://nesc.wvu.edu:16080/waterwedrink/education.cfm
Take it to the Box – Medication Disposal
Rice County Chemical Health Coalition
This site provides disposal box locations and guidelines for medication use, storage, and disposal.
http://ricecountychc.com/take-it-to-the-box-medication-disposal/
Pharmaceutical Waste: Disposing of unwanted medications
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Expired or unwanted prescription or over-the-counter medications from households have traditionally been disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or a drain. Although this method of disposal prevents immediate accidental ingestion, it can cause pollution in wastewater, which has been demonstrated to cause adverse effects to fish and other aquatic wildlife.
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/pharmaceuticals.html
Proper Disposal of Household Prescriptions and Over-the-counter Drugs
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Do NOT Flush or Pour Unwanted, Unused or Expired Medications down the Drain. This includes expired and unused prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. Find out more about proper disposal to protect water quality.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/45083.html
The Product Stewardship Institute
The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) is a national non-profit membership-based organization located in Boston, Massachusetts. PSI works with state and local government agencies to partner with manufacturers, retailers, environmental groups, federal agencies, and other key stakeholders to reduce the health and environmental impacts of consumer products. PSI takes a unique product stewardship approach to solving waste management problems by encouraging product design changes and mediating stakeholder dialogues.
http://www.productstewardship.us/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=182
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Drugs in Drinking Water: New Report Explores Emerging Great Lakes Threat, Solutions
Recent testing of Lake Michigan water has found pharmaceutical byproducts in the water are raising concerns about the potential health threats to people and wildlife for anyone getting drinking water from the Great Lakes.