BOARD OF DIRECTORS Glen Acosta, Vice President Matt Disston, Director Mike Safranski, Director Jim Haselton, Director Ed Mandich, Director GENERAL MANAGER Don Chadd

ON TAP

To Flush Or Not To Flush...

Do you know what to do with expired medicine? Most people don’t. We’ve been told to flush them to prevent harm to children or animals, but now we are being told not to flush. Scientists are warning about possible health problems associated with pharmaceuticals that are flushed down into the sewer. Some research has indicated that surface waters have tested positive for pharmaceuticals resulting from wastewater discharges. The long term health effects on marine life or human’s is still not certain, but risks do exist.

The Trabuco Canyon Water District (TCWD) teamed up with the Orange County Sanitation District to assist in educating the public to reduce the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals.

Answers to questions about pharmaceuticals. . .

What are pharmaceuticals? Pharmaceuticals are prescribed or over-the-counter drugs and medications used for medical treatment.

What do you do with expired or unused pharmaceuticals? Take them to a household hazardous waste collection center/event, or dispose of them in the trash. Until recently, people have been instructed to flush medication down the toilet; flushing is no longer the recommended disposal method.

What effects can flushing pharmaceuticals cause? Studies indicate that the hormones found in pharmaceuticals may cause abnormalities in the reproductive cycles of fish. In addition, this contact can lead to the development of drug-resistant germs, which are linked to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Consequently, the bacteria survive and multiply, making it difficult to combat. Scientists continue to study the long-term health effects on marine life and humans. Although their findings are inconclusive, it is clear that proactive measures need to be taken to keep pharmaceuticals out of the water.

How do we dispose of unwanted medication? Trashing medicine is better than flushing. However, precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of children and animals. It is imperative to make capsules and tablets unusable and unattractive by wetting, breaking, and crushing. The remains should be placed in the original childproof container, sealed with tape and tossed in the trash. Another option is to mix the medication with decaying food for disposal with your household trash.

Are there any collection centers that take pharmaceuticals? Certain hazardous waste collection centers accept over-the-counter and prescribed mediation that has expired or that is no longer needed. Controlled substances cannot be accepted at the centers due to the Drug Enforcement Administration regulations. In Orange County, the Integrated Waste Management Department has four centers that assist with collection and disposal of medication. The centers are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are located at:

• 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine
• 32250 La Pata Ave., San Juan Capistrano
• 1071 N. Blue Gum St., Anaheim
• 17121 Nichols St., Huntington Beach

Additional information can be found at:

www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org

SUGGESTED WEEKLY WATERING SCHEDULE FOR JULY AND AUGUST

* By "cycling" your irrigation timer to turn on for the suggested number of minutes an hour apart, you reduce runoff and gain deeper watering and healthier root growth.

Start with the weekly schedule and increase the times only if your plants show signs of stress. If stress occurs only in isolated areas, check your irrigation system before increasing the time.

To access excellent web sites for water conservation and irrigation tips, go to -

• TCWD's Water Conservation Tips
• www.mwdh20.com
• www.bewaterwise.com

The Regular Board Meeting is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the District Office located at 32003 Dove Canyon Drive, Trabuco Canyon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Board Highlights

• June 21, 2006 – Welcomed a new Director to the District.
• Elected a new Board President and Vice President.
• Recognized former Director Corinne Loskot for her 12 years of outstanding service and leadership.
• Approved the Dove Dam Agreement.
• Directed staff to take actions regarding a claim against the District.
• Provided direction relating to the FY 2006/07 water standby assessments.
• Established the FY 2006/07 appropriations limit.
• Adopted the FY 2006/07 General Fund Budget and Capital Improvement Programs.
• Approved the FY 2006/07 Debt Service Budgets.
• Approved signatories for the District checking account.