EFFLUENT REPORT

A Spring Water Event Special

 

 

Runoff Water Safety

 

Residential neighborhoods come alive in springtime with all sorts of outdoor activities.  People are busy cutting their grass, washing their RVs, cleaning their decks, and enjoying the warm weather after being couped up indoors all winter.  With all the excitement surrounding the season of rebirth, water safety can be overlooked at times.

 

Simple tasks like fertilizing your lawn, washing your car, and pressure washing your house can be harmful to the environment.  Harsh chemicals used in many household products can contaminate runoff water and lead to polluted aquatic ecosystems.  It’s always important to understand the impact of our actions on the natural world.

Contaminated runoff water can make its way into fragile aquatic habitats, endangering all resident species.  The harmful effects of water pollution can take generations to heal naturally, while prevention can be as simple as choosing a different soap or washing your boat in a different location.

 

Knowledge is power!  Following is a list of tips to help manage residential runoff water:

 

Spring Safe Water Tips

 

Follow local, regional, and national laws and regulations regarding safe cleaning and landscaping products.

 

Use environmentally friendly water-based soaps that are labelled “biodegradable”, “non-toxic”, and “phosphate-free”.

 

Avoid runoff into storm drains, springs, creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, and saltwater ecosystems.

 

Wash your atv, bike, car, truck, or tractor on a permeable surface such as grass or gravel to limit off-site runoff.

 

Test your soil and only fertilize how and when needed, avoid overfertilizing, and use safe fertilization methods.

 

Consider more natural weed and pest control practices and avoid overuse of hazardous commercial herbicides and pesticides.

 

 

Be Safe This Spring, 2025!