FOR RELEASE JANUARY 25, 2005
Contacts:
Sara Brown Riggs Charles Hardy
510-452-9261 510-287-0141
SAVE THE BAY & EBMUD PARTNER TO REDUCE POLLUTION IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Mercury Thermometer Exchange Kicks Off Public Education Campaign
OAKLAND, CA – Jan 25, 2005 – East Bay Municipal Utility District and Save The Bay today announced their partnership in a public education campaign to protect San Francisco Bay from water pollution. To kick off the campaign, EBMUD and Save The Bay are hosting a Mercury Thermometer Exchange today through Thursday at the California State Building at 1515 Clay Street in Oakland from 10:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m.
The campaign is designed to teach Bay Area residents what they can do to reduce everyday pollution that harms our Bay. The campaign will consist of a variety of events during the next year that will involve residents in protecting the Bay, including the mercury thermometer exchange, a prescription drug drop off and a Bay-friendly car wash.
During the mercury thermometer exchange, residents can bring in thermometers containing harmful mercury and receive a free safe digital thermometer. Mercury thermometers contain elemental mercury, a silver-colored liquid. Red liquid thermometers are alcohol thermometers and pose no environmental threat.
Mercury contamination is currently one of the greatest threats to the health of the Bay. Mercury is highly toxic and affects the nervous system, kidneys and other organs. It accumulates in the food chain causing major health problems in wildlife and humans.
Mercury from thermometers can enter San Francisco Bay through the sanitary sewer system when a thermometer breaks and spills into a sink.
About Save The Bay
Save The Bay is the oldest and largest organization working exclusively to celebrate, protect and restore San Francisco Bay. Save The Bay wages campaigns to reduce the impacts of urban sprawl and pollution and to create public access. At the core of this work is a commitment to improving the Bay’s health while building and deepening Bay Area residents’ connection to the Bay and strengthening community ties through watershed education and restoration programs. Save The Bay is a 501(c) 3 non-profit.
About East Bay MUD
EBMUD is a water and wastewater utility that serves more than 1.2 million people in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and is a recognized leader in pollution prevention activities that protect San Francisco Bay. EBMUD recently received the National Clean Water Act Pretreatment Award for a record fourth time. This award recognizes EBMUD’s exemplarylongtime efforts to regulate the discharge of industrial pollutants and toxics to our wastewater treatment plant, reduce sewer overflow events in the collection systems and educate businesses and the public on how everyone can help protect San Francisco Bay. EBMUD has also recently reached five consecutive years of full compliance for all discharges of treated wastewater to San Francisco Bay, qualifying for a national Platinum Award for wastewater treatment excellence by the American Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.
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