In recent years, residential pesticide use has been cited as a significant contributor to decreased water quality in urban creeks and waterways. In fact, residents, home gardeners, and pest control professionals use more than half of the pesticides that cause water quality problems in the San Francisco Bay area.

To address the water quality problems associated with pesticide contamination from urban environments, the Our Water Our World program partners with Monterey Bay area garden centers and hardware stores to raise public awareness about alternatives to using hazardous pesticide and fertilizer products in and around the home. The Our Water Our World program trains employees of participating stores to communicate IPM information to customers via less-toxic pest management fact sheets, product shelf talkers and displays.  In-store tabling events, workshops,  An IPM information request hotline also give residents the opportunity to seek less-toxic pest management advice from Ecology Action’s IPM program specialist.

Look for the Our Water Our World logo at your local garden center or hardware store for pest management solutions and less toxic products. You can also find alternative solutions to common pest problems by downloading our fact sheets. Call the IPM info request hotline at 831-426-5925 ext. 114 for answers to questions regarding specific pests, natural enemies, or pesticides.

This program is sponsored by the City of Santa Cruz, the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville, the Monterey Storwater Education Alliance, the City of Salinas, and the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority.

This program is funded by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.