If you use household pesticides the following information is provided by the City of Las Cruces and the NMSU/Dona Ana Cooperative Extension to help reduce pollution in the Rio Grande. This information could save you, the University, and the City millions of dollars.
PESTICIDE IS NOT DISPOSABLE
When properly used, pesticides should not present a serious, threat to our water supply however; the Las Cruces' Wastewater Treatment Facility has found traces of Diazinon in its discharge to the Rio Grande. If this trend continues, it could cost the City millions of dollars in treatment costs and result in rate increases to users. The City needs your help to control this source of pollution.
If you think that your help with this problem doesn't matter, consider this: One drop of Diazinon in one day's sewage from 50 homes is enough to exceed New Mexico Environment Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Check what you know about the safe use of pesticides
Where do you store household chemicals?
Are they locked up, away from water sources, drains, and children?
What parts of the product label do you read?
Do you read the cautions and warnings as well as the directions for use?
Where do you mix your spray?
Is it away from drains in an area where spills can be controlled?
What do with empty pesticide containers?
Do you triple rinse or pressure wash containers before disposing of them?
Do you use the rinse water to spray back on the target areas?
Who showed you how to use household pesticides?
Are you sure that you are using them correctly?
Here are a few tips on how you can help
Read the entire label before using the product. The label provides important information.
Purchase only what you need to do the job. A little bit of pesticide will go a long way
Always store pesticides in the original containers in a safe place, secure from children
Never pour leftover pesticide down-the drain Also, do not mix, rinse, or spray near drains
Rinse containers at least three times before throwing them away. Use the rinse water to spray target areas
Avoid backflow contamination by keeping the hose nozzle above the water level when filling the sprayer.
If you have leftover pesticide there are three things that you can do with it:
Use it,
Share it, or
Bring it to the City's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is held in May and October each year.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a combination of chemical, biological and cultural methods used in a way that considers the entire community of desirable plants and insects, as well as their pests,
Some IPM methods you can use:
Select disease and insect-resistant plant varieties.
Determine the extent of your pest problem before deciding how to control it.
Adjust planting dates to escape key, insect life stages or weed' germination.
Provide ground cover or other habitat for beneficial insects.
Use appropriate irrigation practices such as watering early in the morning, to avoid molds and mildew.
When chemicals are used, consider, safer, environmentally-friendly chemical products.
Information about proper use of house- hold pesticides and disposal of containers provided by
Las Cruces Emergency Phone Numbers
All emergency services 911
State Police 524-6111
Poison Control Center
Albuquerque, NM 800-432-6866El Paso, TX 800-POISON-1