Five Ways to Reduce Water Pollution

Water quality and marine life biodiversity are under attack from toxins that enter our watersheds. A watershed is an area of land that transports rain and snowmelt to streams and rivers and eventually to reservoirs, bays, and oceans. Household cleaners, garden herbicides and pesticides, plant and lawn fertilizers, detergents, vehicle oils, garbage, and animal feces are toxins that contribute to water pollution. These pollutants wash away with the rain and snowmelt, end up in our streams, rivers, bays, and oceans, and destroys habitat, creates dead-zones, and kills wildlife.

Salt Creek Falls, Willamette National Forest, Oregon - 2020 Amy Bradley

Here are five simple steps you can take to reduce water pollution.

1. Replace impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces. 

Solid surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete driveways and sidewalks are impermeable surfaces that do not let water penetrate their surface. Instead, water runs over impermeable surfaces collecting and carrying with it the toxins and pollutants that were on the surface. Permeable surfaces, on the other hand, allow water to penetrate through to the soil. Areas that contain a mixture of solid surfaces (such as concrete pavers) and gravel or vegetation are permeable. Lawns, garden beds, flower beds, rock gardens, sand, and gravel are examples of permeable surfaces.

2. Keep storm drains clear of debris. 

One way to do this is to put trash in cans instead of throwing it on the ground. Another way is to rake up lawn clips and leaves instead of washing them into the street. Adding barriers and metal grates to storm drains will keep debris from entering the drain.

Eugene, Oregon - 2018 Amy Bradley

3. Switch to phosphorous-free lawn care products.

Excessive phosphorous and nitrogen in water can cause algae blooms, which are harmful to wildlife, humans, livestock, and pets. Over-fertilizing is also a contributor to water pollution. To ensure you do not over-fertilizer, test the soil before adding fertilizer. When the plants do not absorb the nutrients, the excess fertilizer flows into creeks, streams, and stormwater drains.

Periwinkle - 2018 Amy Bradley 

4. Control soil erosion.

Soil erosion occurs when water washes topsoil away either farther down the land or into water. Soil contain phosphorous and nitrogen and excessive soil in the water increases phosphorous and nitrogen levels.

5. Use biodegradable products. 

Biodegradable products breakdown by bacteria and organic organisms. Biodegradable products are less likely to pollute our waterways because of their ability to be decomposed by bacteria and organic organisms.

By taking these five steps, you will reduce water pollution. In addition to taking these steps at home, you can suggest your community and employers take the same steps to reduce water pollution. If we all work together, we will make a major impact on improving water quality and marine wildlife biodiversity.