Ideal Chemical Policy

After going through the Louisville Charter, my group and I had come up with similar elements of a good chemical policy. One element that we thought was most important was the full right-to-know. Every person has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. Toxic chemicals can be found in our homes, in our environment, and even in our workplace. Being aware allows us to reduce our exposures and prevent adverse health outcomes.

Another great element is the requirement of safer substitutes and solutions. The only way to change the exposure to toxic chemicals is to provide solutions or alternatives to help with the initial problem. According to the Louisville Charter, The Principle of Substitution states that hazardous chemicals should be systematically substituted by less hazardous alternatives or preferably alternatives for which no hazards can be identified. I like the example they mentioned about pesticide use. Rather than using pesticide, a safer alternative could be achieved through a more systematic change in farming techniques.

When communities or workers become exposed to toxic chemicals that are known to pose a health hazard, it is important to act immediately to prevent these exposures from compromising their health. Respiratory, developmental, and even neurological disorders are just some of the many ways chemical exposures affect our bodies. In certain workplaces, employees who work in close contact with these chemicals place themselves at higher risk. Toxic chemicals are carcinogenic and can leave a worker suffering with chronic diseases.

Several years ago, factory workers in Solano County got exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide. This became a medical emergency where all the local hospitals and emergency departments were contacted, one of which was the hospitals I happened to have clinical in. As a nursing student at the time, I assisted the nurses, doctors, and staff with the triage. It was a crazy scene. There were so many workers affected that they were not only being transported by ambulance but also by buses. A majority of the patients I saw suffered from respiratory problems such as asthma; however, there were a few workers who had more serious health issues and had to be admitted into the hospital. In scenarios like this, it is important to act fast, as it can be a matter of life or death.

Sewage Treatment Facility

The closest sewage treatment facility near me is Delta Diablo. Delta Diablo provides water resource recovery services for the City of Antioch, the City of Pittsburg, and the unincorporated community of Bay Point, serving a population of nearly 200,000. They perform what is called the secondary treatment process to clean the wastewater. The Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act are important laws that help keep our water free of chemicals and pollution. Both have set standards to help keep our water safe.

Water Quality

After some research, I discovered that the primary source of my water is the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Originating from the rivers within the Sierra, the water flows into the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, eventually finding its way into the Delta. The water is then transported in the Contra Costa Canal. 

The water that comes from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is treated at 6 different water treatment plants. I learned that these plants use a process called conventional treatment to clean and disinfect the water. First, the larger materials, such as dirt, pebbles and debris are screened out. Then the water is mixed with treatment chemicals that cause the smaller particles to clump together and settle to the bottom. The water is then disinfected with ozone, chlorine or chloramines to kill any bacteria. Finally, it goes through sand and carbon filter beds to make it clean and clear. 

After viewing the recent water quality results, I was a little shocked to see some of the substances that were found. Arsenic, mercury, and radon were just a few of the contaminants listed. I like how the Contra Costa Water District provides these annual water quality reports. This allows the public to view the quality of water they are receiving and the level of contaminants that are found. 

In terms of drinking water, the only filtering product I have used is the Brita water filter pitcher which I have purchased from Costco awhile back. It is basically a pitcher with a built in filter that is changed after several months depending on use. According to Brita, 1 water filter can replace 300 standard water bottles, which I think is pretty impressive. I am, however, still guilty of using bottled water from time to time. I try my best to stick to reusable water containers.