Zone 7 Home

• Recycle engine oil, oil filters, and car batteries at your nearest recycling center or auto part store. (Link to next section)
• Protect your driveway when servicing your vehicles, sweeping up spills with sawdust or cat litter and disposing of in your trash.
• Service your vehicles regularly to prevent leakage onto streets and driveways.
• Follow label directions for proper disposal of car care products.
• It is against the law to pour used auto fluids such as antifreeze into the street gutter or storm drain. Call the sheriff to report illegal dumping.

 

• Mix and measure all household chemicals accurately to eliminate disposal of excess
• Return unopened chemicals for a refund.
• Don't buy hazardous materials - read labels before you buy
• Follow label directions for proper disposal of household chemicals and their containers.  Use local household hazardous drop off programs. (link to next section)
• Use environmentally friendly soaps and detergents, especially when used outside on cars and pets.

• Use organic fertilizers and natural pest control, or delay application of chemical products such as fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides if heavy rain is forecast. 
• Use “soft” chemicals (less toxic) such as insecticidal soaps, pyrethrin-based insecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis, or B.t., horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts such as silica gel, or insect growth regulators (IGR’s).
• Water lawns and gardens in the early morning hours.  Avoid overwatering.
• Use drip irrigation wherever possible.
• Have your septic system or cesspool inspected and pumped out on a regular basis.
• Do not dispose of poisons/chemicals down your household drain if you have a septic system.

• Use above ground fuel storage tanks.
• Use sedimentation basins with a grease trap for run-off. 
• Dispose of all hazardous waste properly.
• Report illegal dumping.

• Mix and load chemicals and fertilizers at least 200 feet away from your well, creek or pond.
• Empty water used to rinse herbicide or chemical containers into your spray tank.
• Soil test every year to make sure that you are not over fertilizing your land.
• Avoid spreading or application of manure near your well.
• Keep livestock pasture areas more than 50 feet from your well.
• Locate your septic system at least 75 feet from your well.
• Check your well water annually for lead, coliform and nitrates - report results to Zone 7.
• Cap abandoned wells and avoid disposal of waste products in unused wells.  Or obtain a permit at no cost from Zone 7 and destroy the well to prevent potential for contamination of groundwater.
• Inspect your well periodically to determine if the structure has deteriorated or if any pollution hazards are near the well.

Regional Water Quality Control Board
1515 Clay St. 
Oakland, (510) 622-2300
www.swrcb.ca.gov/~rwqcb2/

Alameda County Runoff Clean Water Hotline
(510) 670-5543

Water Pollution Prevention Agency
(888) BAYWISE

National Pollution Prevention roundtable
P2 Hotline @ 888-745-7272