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Preventing Sediment Contamination
Preventing further sediment contamination is everyone's responsibility.
Many people overlook one major source of water contaminants:
individual households. The small amounts of cleaners, solvents,
motor oil, and other toxic materials dumped down the drain
or onto the lawn or driveway of a single household may seem
insignificant. When thousands or millions of households release
toxic substances in this way, however, the effect is substantial.
The contaminants flow into sewage treatment plants, which
are not designed to remove chemicals. Thus, the contaminants
enter the water cycle and may end up in sediments.
You can help by exploring environmentally friendly alternatives
to household cleaners, by recycling motor oil, and by responsibly
disposing of paint cans, household chemical containers, and
insecticides.
Many towns and counties sponsor hazardous waste disposal
centers. Please use them.
As a citizen, encourage your town, county, or state to enforce
environmental protection laws and to pursue watershed-based
management. Remind your representatives in government and
your fellow citizens that contaminated sediments affect not
only wildlife, but can seriously harm people, too.
Another way you can help is by passing this message about
contaminated sediments to others. For additional copies of
this brochure, please contact the EPA
Water Resources Center at (202) 566-1729 or by e-mail
at center.water-resource@epa.gov.
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locating contaminated sediments
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protecting sediments from contamination
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preventing contaminated sediment
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