What you can do

In Your Community

Help educate your neighbors, Get a group together to stencil drainage inlets in your neighborhood with the "don't dump here flows to river" message.
Reduce automobile use by car-pooling, riding the bus, riding your bike or walking.
Wash your car at commercial car washes that recycle their wash water.
Support businesses in your community who offer or use least toxic alternatives and practice pollution prevention.
Encourage others to reduce, reuse and recycle whenever they can.
Participate in local events.

When using chemicals, detergents and pesticides, use only the amount recommended by the manufacturer and use them according to the directions.
Purchase household and garden products that are "least toxic" to the environment.
Avoid purchasing oil-based paint.
Rinse out water-based (latex) paint brushes in the sink or disposed of them in the trash.
Find the nearest recycling center to dispose of your hazardous waste.

Purchase household and garden products that are "least toxic" to the environment.
Sweep sidewalks and patios rather than hose debris into gutters.
Avoid using pesticides or herbicides on your yard and garden.
Garden organically or use alternatives to chemicals when possible.
Do not over-water lawns and gardens. Over-watering can flush large quantities of pesticides and fertilizer directly into storm drains.
Take care of your lawn in an environmentally friendly way. Download the EPA booklet Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment (a large PDF file).

Have your car tuned-up regularly to make sure it is operating as clean as possible with no leaks of oil or other fluids.
Find a location near you to recycle motor oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids.
Fix car leaks right away.

For the concerned citizen, EPA has a Web site devoted to information about pesticides.
Use care in controlling pests around your home and in the garden. Check out the UCDC site for information about pest management and identification
Or download a copy of the EPA's Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (a very large PDF file).
For local assistance in learning more about integrated pest management and the proper use of pesticides, contact Sacramento County Co-op Extension.