A growing body of science shows pharmaceuticals are reaching the Columbia River. How? Pharmaceuticals enter the Columbia through human excretion, when people flush drugs down the toilet, and from livestock operations.
Easy tips to keep your meds out of the Columbia:
- Don’t Flush! Think wastewater treatment plants solve the problem? Nope. Unfortunately many pharmaceuticals pass through water treatment.
- Mail Your Meds. Live in Washington? Residents can request a free, prepaid envelope. Put the unused medication in the envelope and mail the package as if it were a regular package.
- Find a Dropbox. Click here for a list of dropbox locations (Oregon, Washington) in Columbia River communities.
Why it Matters
Pharmaceuticals can affect the health and behavior of wildlife, including insects, fish, birds, and more.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement RB-02J14801-0 to Columbia Riverkeeper. The contents of this fact sheet do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in the fact sheet.
Prevent pollution at the source.
Learn about critical opportunities to keep toxics out of the Columbia River, how to advocate for pollution prevention, and more.