Prioritizing those pesky persistent pollutants (say that three times fast)

This year for the first time, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality has released a list of 175 priority persistent pollutants - the chemicals that we should be most concerned about in Oregon’s rivers and streams. Through March, they’ll hold public comment sessions on the list. Once final, our water treatment plants will enlist help from Oregon’s citizens to reduce these pollutants.

As you might expect, the list includes pesticides from our crops and lawns, industrial chemicals and pollution from cars and power plants. But dyes and fragrances are also on the list, coming from our shampoo, lotion and other personal products. So are painkillers, hormones and other prescription drugs.

OEC supports the action now before our state senate:  a bill to create a take-back program for unused prescriptions so that they don’t end up in the trash or down the toilet.

You don’t have to wait for our leaders to take action; there’s plenty you can do today to protect our rivers for fish and wildlife, rafting and swimming, cities and farms. Check out 50 Ways to Love Your River for ways you can make a difference in your home and community.