There are a few times when it's just not cool to flush the toilet!
Here are the top Seven examples when not to flush the toilet...(the important stuff is at the end!)
7. When your child is playing in the toilet...
6. When you wallet falls into the toilet..
5. When you use your toilet to mail bills..
4. When you're washing your clothes..
3. When an elephant is using your toilet..
2. When you live in a toilet house..
#1. When you're done with your prescription medicines!!
"Potty Jokes" aside....it's really bad for the environment when prescription medicines are disposed in the toilet. Water from our homes travels through the sewer systems to a Water treatment plant. However, Water Treatment Plants do not remove drugs from waste water.. Therefore, the drug latent water from our homes pollute our rivers and streams. There are measurable levels of all kinds of prescription drugs in our rivers and streams.
Many local, regional, state and federal agencies have started the "No Drugs Down the Drain campaign in California. You can find where local events are happening in your community at http://www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org/. Also, check with your local Environmental Health Offices in your community for more environmentally friendly options.
Environmentally Yours,
Nancy Lancaster is a Realtor and Ecobroker practicing in the greater Sacramento region for Lyon Real Estate . Visit Nancy Lancaster website to find homes for sale in Sacramento. Nancy Lancaster sponsors a unique program called "Healthy Homes For You".
This is a lot more comprehensive than when its brown flush it down, when its yellow its mellow. Like the kid in the toilet pic and good point on the prescription drugs. When I first read about the levels of prescription drugs in the water supply, I was pretty flabergasted.
Good reminder and a fun way to accomplish it!
I love that this actually had a serious message at the end.
Pete, Bethany, and Jeff....Thank you so much for your comments! It was a very fun Blog Post to put together. I actually had many toilet photos to select from...but I though these were the best.
Great post with a great message.
I live in a tiny town and I know the guy who use to test the water quit. He quit because the local officails were letting test results slide. Sad!
Hi Brenda & Dena,
Thank you both for your comments! Water companies don't routinely test for pharmecuticals in the drinking water. These contaminants were discovered during research projects. Makes you wonder what else is in the water?????
Thanks again!!
Nancy
Very creative way of making an important point - Thanks!
Another great post, Nancy. Something the public really needs to be educated about. I'll check out the link. Thanks!
I remember a story on the news a few years ago about cleaning out the medicine cabinet every year or something to that effect (the dangers of old medicine). The "expert" said that flushing was the safest way so that the kids would not get in the trash and get them.
I still remember thinking "What in the heck would a child be digging in the garbage can for anyways? Maybe the dog, but the child? " Anyways it cracked me up and I don't know why.
Hi Darla..thank you for your comment. Isn't it funny that "Potty humor" is still fun for adults??
Heather, thanks for the comment. The link I included in this Blog Post was for California only, but I suspect that most states are beginning to develop educational programs to let people know about disposal options for pharmecutical wastes.
Hi Chad...it's amazing the disposal practices that were commen just a few short years ago. It was common practice to disposal of many industrial wastes directly into the ground. I can remember my Dad changing the oil in his car and letting the used oil drain to the soil. Thank you for sending me your comment!
Nancy - Loved how you used the cute photos to lead the reader down to the real message. Well crafted post and good message for all to heed.
Great message delivery! This is a thought provoking post. We don't have many drugs in our home (none of us has prescriptions for anything), but I think of all the people who are dependent on drugs for one reason or another and all the leftovers will end up either in our water systems or as landfill. Neither disposal method is very comforting.
So, I'm trying to consume a healthy amount of water, but not poison myself and not create more landfill problems by consuming bottled water (which may not be any healthier than tap) and be eco-aware...it's getting kind of crazy because it doesn't seem there is a good solution.
I have always thrown the old pills out with the trash. But, in light of some recent articles, most just flush it away. I live on a septic so I am always conscious of what goes down because I know what happens to it in the end.
When I read your title I was thinking more along the lines of don't flush or use when the MLS instructions clearly specify that the home is winterized. That is not something any agent wants to deal with especially the listing agent.