Water bodies, watersheds and storm water

What you can do to reduce water pollution

The historical, environmental, economic and recreational qualities of the St. Johns River combine to make it one of the most unique and truly beautiful rivers in America. But the river’s ecosystem is fragile, and the delicate balance has been upset by human activity — not just industry or developers, but you and me.

We cause the damage very naively, just through our normal behaviors — fertilizing our lawns, flushing our toilets, washing our laundry, driving our cars. Yet the greatest threat to the St. Johns River is indifference — the belief that someone else will fix the problems.

Just as everyone is responsible for the river’s decline, it will take everyone’s participation to bring the St. Johns River into good health, and the work needs to start now. It’s your river. Enjoy the quality of life it brings to northeast Florida. Respect it. Get to know it. Learn how to preserve it. The changes we make together can be meaningful and enduring.

Fertilize wisely

Nitrogen pollution comes from many sources, including from the fertilizers used on lawns and in landscaping. This nitrate-rich water makes its way to surface waters as runoff during rainfall or over-irrigation, or it may drain slowly from the soil over time.

Algal blooms in the lower St. Johns River near Jacksonville grow more in response to nitrogen pollution.

When fertilizing, using the correct amount of fertilizer can reduce the amount of pollutants reaching waterways, save water and money, and result in a healthier landscape. Overfertilizing can aggravate pest problems, stimulate excessive plant growth, and demand frequent irrigation.

Fertilizers should be used only when specific nutrient deficiency symptoms are evident.

Florida-friendly lawns require only moderate amounts of supplemental fertilizer once they are established.

Tips

• Avoid overuse of fertilizers, especially near the water’s edge. Rain and lawn watering can wash excess fertilizer into water bodies, where excess nutrients cause algal blooms and undesirable weed growth.
• The amount of fertilizer to apply depends on a number of factors, such as grass species, soil type and permeability, and your location in the state. Apply fertilizers sparingly, and follow the manufacturer’s directions on the bag, particularly in terms of the amount per application. Know exactly how much area (square feet) of your lawn the bag of fertilizer is intended to cover.
• Florida soil is naturally high in phosphorus, and therefore, a “No Phosphate” fertilizer is fine for most mature lawns. Apply a phosphate fertilizer only if lacking. For specifics to your area, contact the local County Cooperative Extension Service.
• The best fertilizers for healthy landscapes and the environment are those that contain a high percentage of slow-release forms of nitrogen. Slow-release products stay in the soil to supply nutrients to plants on a gradual basis, over a longer period of time. The product label will say organic, slow-release or controlled release nitrogen, sulfur-coated, IBDU (15N-isobutylidene divrea), or resin-coated.
• Fertilize only during the growing season, which can vary depending on where you live in Florida. Allow a month between autumn application and the first freezing temperatures, which will make new growth less vulnerable to frost.
• Use pesticides, herbicides and fungicides only when needed, and apply them responsibly, following the label’s directions. Apply only on affected areas. Consider organic or nontoxic solutions.

Learn more about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™.

Maintain your septic system

When buying a home that is not on a central sewer system, you will want to know the age and capacity of the septic tank and drainfield. Obtain a copy of the permit and the as-built plans, if possible. You also should know if the system’s location endangers the water supply and if the drainfield and soil will work properly year-round under all weather conditions.

To properly maintain a septic tank, inspect it at least once every two years and pump it out if necessary. Factors determining the frequency of pump-outs include tank size, sewage volume and the solids content. For instance, using a garbage disposal can increase solids by 50 percent.

With ordinary use, septic tanks should be cleaned out every three to five years. Failure to do so may result in solids or greases overflowing into the drainfield, which may become clogged and stop functioning. If this happens, the tank must be pumped out and the drainfield also may need to be replaced.

Tips

(from the Florida Department of Health)

• Know the location and capacity of your septic tank system and have a licensed contractor inspect the tank at least every three years. Keep records of inspections, pumping activity, repairs and other work.
• Install the system so that rainfall and surface water will flow away from the drainfield and at an appropriate distance from nearby waterways.
• Install water conservation devices or fixtures to reduce the total volume of water entering the system, and keep toilets and faucets in good repair to prevent leakage and wasting of water.
• Do not perform all machine washing in one day — one large laundry load can use up to 60 gallons of water and overwhelm the whole septic system with excess wastewater.
• Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for periodic cleanout by a permitted septic tank cleaning company.
• Never flush paper towels, newspapers, plastic, diapers, cat litter, rags, sticks or toxic materials, such as pesticides, into the system.
• Never overuse ordinary household cleaning chemicals that will be flushed into the system, and never use chemical solvents to clean plumbing lines or a septic tank system. These and other similar products can kill the microorganisms that consume harmful wastes in the system and can pollute the groundwater.
• Never plant trees or shrubbery within 30 feet of the drainfield. Instead, grow grass or small plants above the septic system to hold the drainfield in place. Waterwise landscaping plants can help control excess runoff.
• Never allow vehicles to drive across or park on the drainfield.
• Cooking oils and grease should never be washed down the sink drain, because the type of microorganisms found in septic tanks and drainfields do not survive or function well in solidified grease.

Minimize harm from stormwater runoff

You may not have waterfront property, but the rain that runs off your roof, lawn and driveway can eventually end up in the nearest water body by flowing over land and into storm drains.

A common misconception is that storm drains lead to a treatment plant. Rather, storm drains are direct conduits to your stormwater pond or natural waterway. It is important to never dump or place anything down the storm drain inlet except for rainwater.

Here are some tips to minimize the harm of stormwater runoff leaving your home or workplace:

• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. Unwise or excessive use of chemicals can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment. Use nontoxic alternatives whenever possible, and pull weeds by hand.
• Avoid dumping waste oil, chemicals or yard trash into ponds, inlets or storm drains. Contact your local government’s waste management department for a list of disposal facilities.
• Repair automobile leaks immediately to reduce runoff from oil and heavy metals, such as lead, copper and cadmium, impacting waterways.
• Dispose of household hazardous wastes, such as antifreeze, used motor oil and batteries, at designated collection or recycling facilities. Up to five gallons of used motor oil can be taken to most auto parts stores.
• Clean up after your pet to prevent animal waste from washing into waterways.
• Use a commercial car wash, or wash your car on the lawn or other unpaved surface.
• Sweep up yard debris rather than hosing down areas. If trash, grass clippings, branches or litter clog the drains, they can block flow and create localized flooding problems.
• Compost or recycle yard waste and lawn clippings when possible. Depositing lawn clippings in water bodies and storm drains can increase oxygen demand in the water, which can significantly harm fish populations and damage seagrass beds — vital habitat for animals and aquatic organisms.
• Properly dispose of excess paints through a household hazardous waste collection program.
• Sweep up and properly dispose of construction debris such as concrete and mortar.
• Use plants to create a buffer zone of five feet or more between your yard and any water bodies. Shoreline vegetation can reduce erosion and trap pollutants in stormwater runoff before the runoff reaches water bodies.

Conserve water and reduce wastewater discharges

You may not realize that the water you use in your home — in sinks, showers, toilets, clothes washers, dishwashers and more — may ultimately be discharged into the St. Johns River as treated wastewater.

This wastewater — partially treated sewage — is the largest contributor of nutrient pollution to the St. Johns River. And removing it from the river is among the District’s highest priorities.

Converting treated and disinfected sewage to reclaimed water provides a safe, environmentally responsible alternative to wastewater disposal. This means less waste will be discharged in area waterways, such as the St. Johns River, and makes reclaimed water available for reuse. When using reclaimed water for irrigation, it saves fresh, drinkable water for use in homes and businesses. It reduces the need to transport water from farther distances and postpones the need to develop new drinking water supplies.

Millions of dollars have been spent already to improve treatment facilities and other infrastructure in the lower basin to allow for and to expand reuse of treated wastewater. However, some projects are years away from implementation. And in some areas, building the infrastructure is prohibitively expensive.

Governments and utilities are working together to remove wastewater from the river and, instead, pipe it as reclaimed water to serve other purposes such as irrigation. It is possible for reclaimed water to contain enough nutrients to supply a large portion of a landscape’s fertilizer requirement.

What you can do

As with high-quality groundwater, reclaimed water supplies are limited. So even when using reclaimed water, it is important to practice conservation measures, such as planting water-efficient landscapes and irrigating appropriately.

You can also do your part by practicing water conservation indoors. By doing so, you are reducing the volume of wastewater that is sent to the river for disposal, which helps to improve the river’s health.

Learn how to save water indoors and outdoors.