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Mercury In response to growing concerns over mercury in the San Francisco Bay, the District continues to focus efforts on this pollutant of concern. Mercury has been used for centuries in everything from mining to paints and pesticides. Today, mercury is commonly found at home in batteries, toys, fluorescent tubes, thermometers, and thermostats. Mercury is a toxic pollutant that builds up in the human body and can cause damage to the nervous system and to the kidneys, liver, or skin. For more information of the effects of mercury on the human body visit the following websites: http://ca.water.usgs.gov/mercury/, and http://epa.gov/. A significant source of today's mercury contamination comes from consumer items that are not disposed of properly. Mercury thermometers and other household items that contain mercury may be safely discarded at the Household Hazardous Waste sites listed in our hazardous materials section or by internet HHW@co.alameda.ca.us.
Diazinon remains a pollutant of concern because of its potential to impact local creeks and the San Francisco Bay. Diazinon is a synthetic chemical used in pesticides. It may reach the sewer through sewer drains, stormwater inflow to sewer pipes, food waste, etc. Diazinon is the name of an organophosphorus insecticide used to control pest insects in soil, on ornamental plants, and on fruit and vegetable crops. It is also used to control household pests such as flies, fleas, and cockroaches. Diazinon is sold under the names of alfatox, basudin, AG 500, gardentox, knoxout, and spectracide. The health effects include nervous system disruption, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, constriction of the pupils, blurry vision, and few cases of death. There are numerous websites available with more information on diazinon, simply type in keyword "Diazinon" and begin your search. Use alternative remedies to control pests. These alternative remedies can be found the web at www.cleanwaterprogram.com. Used Motor Oil Today's society has evolved around the automobile powered by fossil fuels. In order for that form of transportation to continue operating properly you need to change the oil frequently. Improper disposal of this pollutant can have serious impacts on the local creeks and the Bay. As a result, the District has expanded recycling services to include a curbside used motor oil program. Illegal disposal of used motor oil causes detrimental and sometimes irreversable effects to the aquatic environment. Recycling used motor oil also saves our environmental supply of oil for future generations. It only takes 1 gallon of used motor oil to produce 2 ½ quarts of refined oil, while it takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce the same 2 ½ quarts of oil. For more information on oil facts visit the website http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/UsedOil/Facts.htm.
Industries and restaurants are required to pretreat their grease
and properly dispose of used FOG. Households and multi-family untis
contribute the biggest percentage of FOG to the sewer system. Practice
keeping FOG's out of the drains of your residence. This practice
benefits both sides, your drains will not clog up and our sewers
will flow freely. By reducing FOG down the drain you are playing
a big part in preventing possible environmental damage to our creeks
and Bay through sanitary sewer overflows.
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