DEAR ABBY: In a recent letter from "Heartbroken in Lakewood, N.J.," the writer was distressed over the death of her pet from ingesting antifreeze left on the driveway, and cautioned your readers to hose down their driveways so that their pets are not poisoned.
Abby, unintentional acts of pollution are not only dangerous to residents and their pets, but have similar impacts on the fish and wildlife who are on the receiving end of our storm (drain) water. Most liquid substances washed into storm drains get dumped, untreated, into our rivers and lakes -- where one pint of oil will produce a one-acre oil slick.
The Congress and states are attempting to clean up storm drainage as part of the Clean Water Act. Disposing of oil, antifreeze, paint or paint thinner, household cleansers and other substances by dumping them into gutters and storm drains not only damages the environment but is also a crime.
So, Abby, urge your readers to call their local public works department and find out where to dump used oil and how to properly dispose of other toxic liquids. Remember, for most of us, the water you wash away could be someone else's water supply! Please don't put anything down a gutter or storm drain that you wouldn't want to drink or swim in. -- BERT McCOLLAM, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
DEAR MR. McCOLLAM: Consider it done! Read on:
DEAR ABBY: In reference to Fluffy, the sweet little dog who lapped up the antifreeze her owner left in the driveway, it isn't clear whether the Sunday mechanic collected most of the antifreeze and spilled a little, or just drained it on the driveway.
Abby, if the antifreeze killed Fluffy, just imagine what it would do to the environment if it were hosed off the driveway and into the ecosystem.
Please, tell your readers that ALL antifreeze (as well as oils) should be collected and disposed of properly. Shops that change oil must, by law, accept used oil. -- J.H.K., HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.