In order to shed the extra weight, the waterways need our help to cut out nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria and sediment from their daily diet. These pollutants find their way into our waterways because we are not paying attention! Too much fertilizer means added nitrogen and phosphorus are dumped into our rivers. Bacteria comes from excessive pet waste and sanitary sewer overflows….that is just GROSS! And of course sediment is just dirt eroding way. So I say let’s keep our dirt where it belongs, pick up after our pets and to fertilize only if needed. That way if the bay loses a few pounds we can all enjoy our favorite watering holes more and show off our new swimsuits! Of course this means I will need to be cutting back a bit too. I am just glad those Christmas cookies are gone.
Do your part and follow through with these easy to do clean waterway exercises:
Scoop the Poop – This one is simple: Bag it and trash it. Remember to bring a plastic bag when you take your dog for a walk. And if you are a dog-friendly community, consider adding a pet waste station in your neighborhood.
Put Your Soil to the Test – Don’t assume your soil needs fertilizer this Spring! Get it tested first to see if your lawn needs fertilizer and if so, what amount to apply. Don’t waste money on fertilizer you may not need!
Ditch the Disposal – Food scraps, fats, oils and grease all belong in the trash not the drain. Learn more about how clogged pipes lead to polluted waterways.
Cheers to a new and better year for all! And hopefully one with a few less pounds of water pollution!
This blog post was submitted by Diana Cheatham, Norfolk Emerging Leader intern.