Written by Merry Lee Jones
Photography by Donna Huffman

n recent years, sources of water pollution like storm water run-off has been the greatest concern. Now, more than 60 percent of water pollution comes from things like leaking oil from cars, fertilizers from yards, farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks. All of these sources add up to a big pollution problem. But each of us can do our part to help protect our water.

What about washing your car?

There’s no problem with washing your car. It’s just how and where you do it. Most soap contains phosphates and other chemicals that harm aquatic organisms and water quality. The soap, together with the dirt and oil wash from your car, flows into near storm drains which run directly into wetlands, streams or the May River. The phosphates from the soap can cause excess algae to grow. Algae looks bad, smells bad and harms water quality. As algae decays, the process uses up oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic organisms need.

How can you wash your car and help keep our waters clean?

Use soap sparingly. Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to savewater. Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you’re done, not in the street. Wash your car on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally. Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car.

What’s the problem with pet waste?

In most cases, outdoor pets are fenced in large areas on grassy yards where their waste is not a problem. It is when pets are fenced near sensitive areas such as streams or deposit waste along streets and sidewalks and in parks that the waste becomes a problem. It’s a health risk to pets and people, especially children. It’s a nuisance in our neighborhoods. Pet waste is full of bacteria that can make people sick. If it’s washed into the storm drain and ends up in a stream or the May River, the resulting bacteria levels can reduce the recreational uses of these waters.

How can you get rid of pet waste and help keep our waters clean?

Remove pet waste for proper disposal when it is near streams, ditches, sidewalks, roadways or children’s play areas. Bury small quantities in your yard where it can decompose slowly. Be sure to cover the waste with at least several inches of soil. Bury the waste in several different locations in your yard and keep it away from vegetable gardens. Pet waste may also be bagged and placed with the household trash for pickup. Pet waste should not be added to compost, as disease-causing organisms are oftennpresent in the waste.

How can we help with our marshes and wetlands?

Our marshes serve as the primary source of food and shelter for hundreds of species of reptiles, fish and amphibians. Habitat loss, chemical pollution, and the build-up of silt in streams and rivers from agricultural practices and construction adversely affect the wetlands and the creatures that depend on them for survival.

Many opportunities exist for private citizens, corporations, government agencies and other groups to work together to slow the rate of wetland loss and to improve the quality of our remaining wetlands.

You can help by:
• Seeding grass or planting shrubs to
prevent soil erosion.
• Maintaining vegetative buffer strips
between developed land and water.
• Properly disposing of chemicals
and toxins.
• Releasing accidental catches and
practicing ‘leave no trace’ principles.
• Avoiding the release of non-native
plant or animal species into the
environment.
• Supporting wetlands conservation
initiatives. Call the Wetlands Hotline
at 1-800-832-7828.