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City Participation in Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD)
Drug Collection Event
Report Prepared by: Christopher L. Foss,
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: September 16, 2008
SUBJECT:
ATTACHMENTS:
RECOMMENDATION:
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
CITY CLERK
File # ~~®®-^~
Economic Development Director
1. September 2, 2008 Letter from Bert Michalczyk, General
Manager of the Dublin San Raman Services District (DSRSD}"
1) Receive Staff Presentation; and
Z) Provide Staff with direction regarding the participation in the
DSRSD Drug Collection event on October 10, 2008.
None.
DESCRIPTION: The City of Dublin received a letter dated September 2, 2008 from
Bert Michalczyk, General Manager of the Dublin San Ramon Services District regarding a program to
eliminate pharmaceuticals from our water supply (see Attachment 1). According to DSRSD,. unwanted or
expired medicines are being disposed of daily down the toilet, which studies have shown can pass through
wastewater treatment facilities into creeks, rivers, bays and oceans. Recent studies found that
pharmaceutical compounds were found in 80% of the waterways tested, and recent news stories have
brought the issue of trace pharmaceuticals in drinking water into the. public eye.
In an effort to educate the community that disposing of leftover medication down the toilet is no longer
acceptable, DSRSD is joining with other public agencies in conducting aweek-long education campaign,
The campaign, "No Drugs Down the Drain," will be held from October 4 -October 11, 2008 and will
provide information on alternative disposal options. DSRSD has also scheduled a Drug Collection Event
for Friday, October 10, 2008 at the DSRSD offices (7051 Dublin Boulevard). In order to collect any
controlled medications (narcotics, vicodin, codeine, etc.), a Police Officer must be present to collect the
drugs, and DSRSD is requesting that the City make an officer available to assist. during the event.
City Staff has met with DSRSD officials on this request and Dublin Police Services staff can be made
available to assist with the event, if so directed.
COPY TO:
Page 1 of 2
ITEM NO. '~J • Z
G:\Chris\DSRSD\Agenda Statement October 2008 DSRSD Event.doc
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council provide Staff with direction
regarding the participation in the DSRSD Drug Collection event on
October 10, 2008.
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DUBLIN ~`~'~ 7051 Dublin Boulevard
SAN RAMON ~ ~ Dublin, California 94568
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FAX: 925 829 1180
DISTRICT `
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~'CE 195 www.dsrsd.com
September 2, 2008
Joni Pattillo
City Manager
City of Dublin
100 Civic Plaza
Dublin, CA 94568
Dear Ms. Pattillo:
HECEIVEd
CITY OF DUELIIV
SEP - 4 2008
CITY NiANAG~`~ ~~~ICE
I would like to thank you and Mayor Lockhart for meeting with DSRSD
staff to discuss a joint City/District program designed to eliminate
pharmaceuticals from our water.
Everyday in California, unwanted or expired medicine is disposed of
down the toilet. While this was once a recommended practice to protect
children and pets from accidental poisonings, studies show that
pharmaceuticals can pass through wastewater treatment facilities into
creeks, rivers, bays and oceans. In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey
reported that there were pharmaceutical compounds in 80% of waterways
tested. Because many of these compounds are designed to be effective in
small doses, there is concern that they may have impacts on water quality
and wildlife. There is also concern that pharmaceuticals may cause upsets
of biological wastewater treatment systems and failures of whole effluent
toxicity tests, impact the beneficial reuse of biosolids, and jeopardize
Publicly Owned Treatment Works' ability to provide high quality recycled
water. Recent Associated Press articles have also brought the issue of
trace pharmaceuticals in drinking water into the public eye, dramatically
increasing regulators' interest in taking steps to reduce pharmaceuticals in
the environment.
A coalition of local, regional, state and federal. agencies plans to conduct
a one-week California-wide educational campaign, October 4-11, 2008, to
educate the public that disposing of leftover medication down the toilet is
no longer acceptable. The campaign, "No Drugs Down the Drain!" will
provide the public with information on alternative disposal options
throughout the state.. Friday, October 10th DSRSD will collect drugs at our
District Office and I would like to request that the City of Dublin provide
Dublin San Ramon Services District is a Public Enllty
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Attachment 1
Joni Pattillo, City Manager.
September 2, 2008
Page 2
a Police Officer during this event as the District needs the City of Dublin
police to "collect" the drugs because controlled medicines (narcotics,
vicodin, codeine, etc.) must be collected by a law enforcement officer.
It is also our hope that the City and the District can create a permanent
drug collection program that can also be used in the cities of Pleasanton
and San Ramon.
Thank you for helping us to protect our water environment and to remove
unused and/or expired pharmaceuticals from customers' homes, thereby
reducing the chances of poisoning children.
As always, it's a pleasure working with the City of Dublin.
Sincerely,
/o~~~/v
BERT MICHALCZYK
General Manager
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