Videos & Fun Stuff
Learn how wastewater is cleaned and how to keep pollution out of homes, creeks and San Francisco Bay.
Watch the science behind wastewater treatment at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant
Consumer Reports tests if “Flushable Wipes” really break down
Many products that claim to be flushable actually cause sewer backups. Learn about the new wet wipes legislation signed in October 2021 that will require the wipes industry to label packaging for diaper wipes, cleaning wipes, and cosmetic wipes with clear “Do Not Flush” warning.
Learn how the RWQCP partners with Santa Clara County Department of Health to track COVID and other diseases
The Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant partners with Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (SCAN) to track rates of infectious disease occurrence in the RWQCP service area. Monitoring these trends helps public health officials flag when specific diseases are increasing, such as influenza and coronavirus. Learn how the RWQCP partners with the Santa Clara County Department of Health to track COVID and other diseases.
Learn how some choices at home can contribute to pollution in the Bay.
Safer Pest Control: Learn safer ways to control home and garden pests.
Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste Safely: Dispose of hazardous waste the right way to protect your family and San Francisco Bay.
Don’t Rush to Flush! (Safe Medication Disposal): Watch this short whiteboard video on safe medication disposal, developed by the California Product Stewardship Council
The Story of Microfibers: Shirts, pants, dresses, underwear… most of what we wear every day are made of plastic synthetic materials that release trillions of microfibers into our environment!
Only Flush the 3 P’s: Pee, Poop, and Paper.
If you ever find yourself uncertain as to whether or not an item can be safely flushed, remember the 3 P’s: Poop, Pee, and Toilet Paper!
The 3 P’s can be properly processed and disposed of through our waste management system.
Anything else, including common bathroom items like wipes, dental floss, or Q-tips, should never go into your toilet. Although they are easy to flush, flushing unintended substances and objects causes blockage, damage, and pollution over time – to both public infrastructure and your own home! Learn more at Baywise.org.
Other fun stuff!
From our streets…To our creeks: This is not the type of smoked fish you want to eat. Keep our creeks clean and don’t litter.
The Water Challenge a Growing Number of Cities Face: Phil Bobel, Assistant Director of Public Works Palo Alto, describes the water challenge and how Palo Alto is addressing it.
Learn how mercury from the Gold Rush era still impacts San Francisco Bay today: San Francisco Bay is still healing from Gold Rush era mercury and gold mining.
These Scientists Want You to Rethink How You Use Plastics: Microplastics in the SF Bay.
