Acre for acre American lawns have ten times more pesticides than cropland. Look under your sink and in the garage; chances are your home is full of hazardous chemicals. Cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and disinfectants can contribute heavily to water pollution. Any chemical or nutrient that goes down the drain or onto our properties can seep into groundwater, or be carried by runoff and enter our drinking supply.
The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study of contaminants in U.S. streams in 2002. Over two-thirds of streams sampled contained detergents and disinfectants. Soaps and fertilizer contain nutrients that can cause algae blooms and oxygen depletion. Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals designed to kill life and their mis-use, or overuse, can cause problems for our water.
There are many ways to improve the quality of water and our landscapes at the same time. Creative landscaping that requires fewer nutrients and chemicals, organic gardening, and an appreciation of a more natural environment are important steps to combating water pollution.
Finally, we cannot forget about conservation. Homes and gardens are a leading source of wasted water. By doing our best to conserve you and I can keep this precious resource clean and available for all life.
Did You Know...? | Simple Things You Can Do: |
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| Web Site | Description |
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| Explore Your Backyard Jungle | Take a “Backyard Safari” and let other kids know what's going on in your backyard. Many activities to keep you entertained and connected. |
| Plant a Native Tree | A new tree will add beauty, slow down runoff, prevent soil erosion, and take up CO2 from the atmosphere. The Arbor Day Foundation has great information on what will grow in your area. |
| Native Plants for Your Garden | Another great resource for finding native species in your state. Really good search fuction. |
| Make a Rain Barrel | Build your own rain barrel to collect rainwater for your lawn and garden. |
| Survey Products in Your Home | Scroll down on this link, and see how many toxic chemicals you have in your home. Try properly disposing of some and getting biodegradable alternatives from a health food store. |
| Try Alternative Cleaners | Learn more about household toxics. Try properly disposing of some and replace them with safe easy alternatives. |
| Web Site | Description |
|---|---|
| EPA's Do's & Dont's | A terrific and comprehensive list of Do's and Dont's for your home and garden. |
| Plant Guide | A guide to “Low Water Use Plants” by region. |
| LessLawn.com | A good Do-it-Yourself guide to reducing your lawn. |
| Chem Free Lawn | 12 easy steps to “Getting your lawn off drugs.” |
| Water Wise Landscapes | Everything you need to get started on a water wise landscape. |
| Xeriscaping | You could be using plants that require a lot less water and nutrients. This works especially well in arid climates, but can be used anywhere. |
| Web Site | Description |
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| Less Lawn Lesson | A learning module designed for use with the Clean Water poster. The Less Lawn Lesson has students calculate the area of their home or schools and explores what pollutants run-off the land and where they go. |
| Exploring Backyards | A lesson plan from National Geographic that connects students to the land, and lets them explore. |
| PBS Kids Backyard Jungle | Pages for parents and teachers concerning PBS Kids Backyard Explorer program. |
| Water Projects | Lesson plans for building: Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens, Green Roofs, and Tree Box Filters. |
Supporting water education and sustainable water use in Maine.
