SPRING IS HERE - TIME TO CLEAN AND MAKE EVERYTHING GREEN!
But what does that mean for homeowners? Lawns to rake, fertilize and apply herbicides. Gardens and landscaping to get ready for the summer. Cars to wash, homes and buildings to power wash. So many things to do. But we need to be careful with what we do in the spring to make our yards, gardens, vehicles and homes look good. Our daily actions can have a bad “reaction” in our environment.
HOW DO POLLUTANTS ENTER SURFACE WATERS IN AN URBAN or RURAL AREA?
Storm drainage systems are the main source of pollutants, draining almost everything from lawns, streets and parking lots directly to our surface waters.
Storm water is NOT cleaned and is known as Non-Point Source Pollution. The common contaminants are the following: Grass clippings, fertilizers, pesticides, leaves, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, sediment, pet wastes and livestock waste.
Did you know that nutrients from fertilizers and domestic animal waste such as phosphorus is making its way into the Saginaw River, Tittabawassee River, Cass River and the Swan Creek and ultimately the Saginaw Bay causing algal blooms and creating conditions of lower oxygen content in the rivers affecting aquatic life and ultimately all of US who enjoy water resources of our Great Lakes in Michigan?
One pound of phosphorus can cause the growth of 10,000 pounds of algae in our rivers, lakes and Saginaw Bay.