Pollution Solutions

How you can help with pollution:

1 – Leave natural plantings at the water’s edge or plant a rain garden using native plants. A rain garden creates a buffer zone to help filter runoff and takes advantage of that runoff in its design and plant selection. Most importantly, a rain garden is formulated to withstand extremes of moisture and concentrations of harmful nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, that are found in stormwater runoff.

2 – Use permeable materials for driveways, walkways, or patios and under downspouts – wherever you see runoff. Shells and rocks and other mulches help.

3 – Develop ways to capture water from downspouts and use this resevoir for future watering. Soaker hoses can also disperse this water.

4 – Limit fertilizer use. Use no fertilizers within 100 ft. of the shore. Use organic products or 50% release nitrogen or 50% water-insoluble nitrogen. Nitrogen loading in our ponds has caused excessive algae which blocks sunlight and suffocates marine life.

5 – Use mulching lawn mowers and set blades at 4 inches.

6 – Have septic systems checked. Keep up-to-date on the new technologies to remove nitrogen from our waste.

7 – Educate your children about the importance of protecting our waters.

8 – Look for the EPA’s Safer Choice label to help you identify cleaning products that are safer for you, your family and the environment.