According to the EPA, the leading source of pollution in surface water supplies is polluted rainwater runoff. Many pollutants are found in legal, commonly used household products — cleaning chemicals for our homes, oil and gasoline for our vehicles, pesticides and fertilizers for our lawns, and pharmaceuticals for ourselves.
Please help protect our water supplies by making sure these potentially harmful products are used only in limited quantities when necessary, and that they are disposed of properly.
Here are some simple household tips on what you can do to help:
Gardening for clean water
Go organic
Landscaping and gardening practices can harm water quality – or enhance it. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are chemicals that pose risks to human health and the environment. Overuse of fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen can impair waterbodies because these nutrients provide fuel for algae. Some algae is harmful and can produce toxins, and in other cases algal blooms can cause “eutrophication,“ a condition where the decomposition of algae reduces the level of dissolved oxygen available in the water, stressing or killing wildlife. Vegetation removal and the preference for lawns increases stormwater runoff and can lead to the loss of important wetlands and riparian buffer areas, expose soils, and cause erosion and sedimentation.
Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to reduce the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Go organic! You can also use landscaping and gardening techniques to control stormwater runoff, reducing the impact of stormwater and associated pollutants.
Reduce the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
- Plant pest-resistant, native species. Rotate garden crops to reduce the potential for pest infestations.
- Use mulch and time plantings to avoid peak infestation periods.
- Hand pull weeds.
- Use biological, mechanical or botanical controls as needed for particular pest problems.
Least toxic methods
- Use home remedies for pest control, such as: 1 teaspoon dish liquid to 16 oz. of water
- Spot treat affected plant or plant parts.
- Integrated Pest Management (IMP) is not necessarily organic and allows use of chemicals as a last resort. While Riverkeeper discourages the use of chemicals, IMP programs can provide a wealth of information on organic options.
- If you decide to use pesticides, choose those that pose the least threat to water quality and public health (e.g. insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, boric acid and Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)).
- Read and carefully follow the directions, usage restrictions and health and environmental precautions!
Limit use of fertilizers
- Test soils before applying fertilizers.
- Make and use compost to reduce garden waste and reuse available nutrients.
- Apply sparingly (no more than 1 lb. of N/1,000 sf./year). Use P-free or low-P fertilizers.
- Use slow-release, organic fertilizers.
- Limit application on areas where the potential for water contamination is high (e.g. sandy soils, steep slopes, compacted soils).
- Never apply fertilizers when the ground is frozen or when there is a likelihood of rain. Don‘t over water lawns (nutrients wash out of soils).
Maintain vegetated buffers
- Establish “no mow“ buffer zones with native trees and shrubs around wetlands and waterbodies. Vernal pools should have at least an 800-foot buffer, whereas most lakes, streams and wetlands benefit from at least a 100-foot buffer.
- Minimize lawn/turf areas and use native, low-maintenance plantings.
- Cut lawns no shorter than 3“ to establish deep roots.
Control and treat stormwater pollution
- Rain barrels capture excess water that would otherwise runoff roofs. The water can be used to irrigate landscaping and gardens, saving on the cost and chemical use associated with using treated drinking water. Use mulch instead of impervious plastic coverings to increase absorption in bare areas.
- Plant terraced or sloped rain gardens to directly capture roof runoff.
- Plant vegetated swales to capture and treat stormwater along curbs and roads.
- Green roofs have numerous benefits for homeowners and the environment.
Household chemicals
The chemical compounds contained in everyday household products – old electronics and appliances, cleaning products, paints and solvents, used motor oil and antifreeze, batteries, pesticides, and medicines — are hazardous to human health and the environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Americans generate 1.6 million tons of hazardous household waste each year.
Exposure risks arise when products are not used and disposed of properly. Too frequently, liquid products are washed down sinks and toilets, poured into storm drains, or even dumped on the ground and pollute our environment. Solid wastes that are thrown in household garbage are transferred to landfills where toxins become concentrated and leach into our environment. These practices pose risks to human health by contaminating drinking water supplies, and damage both land and aquatic environments for all life.
Reduce use, use alternatives
- Use non-hazardous alternatives for plant sprays, cleaners, polishes, preservatives, and pet products.
- EPA provides simple recipes for homemade alternatives involving common products like lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, and plant oils.
- Limit product application and use chemical products only when absolutely necessary.
- Reuse and recycle hazardous household products when practicable.
Properly store and dispose of hazardous products
- Proper storage of hazardous household products is necessary to avoid spills, leaks, and/or ignition of flammable compounds. Products should be stored in their original containers with original labels to avoid accidents.
- Special collection days. Find out if there are any designated days in your town or county for collecting solid waste at a central location to ensure safe management and disposal.
- Local business collection sites. You may be able to drop off certain products at local businesses for recycling or proper disposal. Some local garages, for example, accept used motor oil for recycling
- Permanent collection or exchange facilities. Some have exchange areas for unused or leftover paints, solvents, pesticides, cleaning and automotive products, and other materials.
Pharmaceuticals: a growing concern
Pharmaceuticals — including prescription and non-prescription drugs, steroids and hormones — are also household pollutants that are released into the environment through wastewater treatment plants and household septic systems, contaminating drinking water wells and stream base flows. A recent study of organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams included 11 sampling sites in the Croton watershed. All 11 sampled streams contained detectable levels of human pharmaceutical compounds.
Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes includes pouring them down the drain or on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash.
How to dispose of those unused pills
There are many take-back drug programs being implemented across the country. New York State falls far behind many others in developing a safe and effective method for keeping pharmaceuticals out of our water supply. Riverkeeper will be engaging in dialogue at the federal, state, and local levels of government to bring safe drug disposal programs to New York State.
In the interim, however, there are new recommendations — that we endorse — to dispose of drugs in a manner that is least likely to impact our State‘s water:
To properly dispose of medication, keep it in its plastic container, fill it with water and Kitty Litter or sand, place the cap on the bottle, put it into a zip lock plastic bag, then dispose of it in the trash.
The other option for discarding medications is to take them to your local hazardous waste facility or hazardous waste clean up day location.
