We live in a watershed, a region whose water all eventually drains into San Francisco Bay. Household wastewater — the water used to wash clothes and dishes, brush your teeth, flush the toilet, or take a bath all drains to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant. The water is cleaned of biological pollutants and wastes and is then discharged into the Bay. But treatment plants aren't designed to handle non-biological wastes that are often disposed down sinks and toilets, so be sure to dispose of them correctly.

We're all in it together 

• Never dispose of unused medicines, pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals, paint, or other hazardous wastes down sinks or toilets. Instead, bring them to a household hazardous waste collection event in your area:
  
  Palo Alto (P.A. residents only). 9am-noon first Saturday of each month at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto. Businesses, please call 650.496.6980 to schedule an appointment.
  
  Mountain View, Stanford, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills
  
  East Palo Alto and other San Mateo County Residents
  
  Don't see your City listed? Call 650.329.2598 for more information.
• Never dispose of oil, pesticides, or hazardous wastes down a gutter. Storm drains will carry these pollutants directly to creeks and the Bay without treatment, harming wildlife and degrading water quality.