MARTIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

923 North State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN  56031 

(507) 235-6680
 
 

'MORE THAN 24 MILLION ACRES OF SUBURBIA ARE PLANTED IN LAWN. EACH YEAR $7.5 BILLION ARE SPENT ON THE CARE OF THAT LAWN, INCLUDING MORE THAN  THE CARE OF THAT LAWN, INCLUDING MORE THAN 67 MILLION POUNDS OF PESTICIDES.  IN ADDITION, THE AVERAGE LAWN REQUIRES 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER OVER THE COURSE OF A SUMMER.  TO KEEP IT THAT EMERALD GREEN SO MANY CONTINUE TO COVET."

  STEVIE DANIELS, 1995, THE WILD LAWN HANDBOOK
 
STORMWATER
 

Sources

Stormwater comes from rain and anything else that the rain carries along with it when it runs along the ground. This water is usually only filtered for large objects and ends up entering the rivers, streams and other bodies of water. In this mainly untreated state it affects not only the home of many aquatic animals, but your own drinking and bathing water as well.

What is Point-Source and Non-Point Source Pollution?

Stormwater can include water from both point-sources and from non-point sources. Point-source locations can create such pollutants as chemical runoff, oil leaks, sewage and bulk trash. Non-point sources cause pollution from car fluid leaks, fertilizers from farms, pesticides from gardens, paint, if dumped into the sink or toilet in your home, trash from littering, and "natural" litter, such as grass clippings, leaves or animal feces.

What are the Environmental Impacts

Stormwater pollution harms plants, animals and human beings. Impacts on plants and animals are:

  • reduction of light penetration caused by sediment in the water, which affects photosynthesis, the process that allows plants to use light as their source of energy
  • supply of oxygen becomes reduced when green waste decays in water, taking vital oxygen away from plants, fish and other aquatic animals
  • soil pollution clouds up waterways, causing fish to suffocate by clogging their gills
  • litter clogs waterways and causes toxicity as it breaks down. It affects the health of birds, fish and other animals and plants that live in the waterways.

Impacts on humans are:

  • bacterial risk, making it dangerous to swim immediately after rain
  • ugly pollution destroys the visual amenity of our waterways
  • pollutes drinking and bathing water.

What Can You do to Stop Non-Point Source Pollution?

There are many things that people can do to stop this pollution.

  • Changing or stopping everyday activities such as littering or dumping unused paint down the drain can help.
  • Make every effort to put trash into the proper receptacles, and recycle whenever possible.
  • Clean up after your dog when taking him or her for a walk.
  • Stop using chemicals on your lawn, or if necessary, use environmentally friendly products.

 
Citizen Fact Sheet:  Reduce polluted urban runoff -- 10 things you an do to protect the waters of our streams, wetlands and lakes - click here.
 
WATER CONSERVATION
The Importance of Water
Clean water, especially that is usable by humans for consumption, is a non-renewable resource.  While it may seem that the large oceans, rivers and lakes in and around the continents should suffice to provide humans with this natural resource, water from those sources is not usable in its untreated state.  Water from rivers and lakes, in many cases, requires not only purification, but also desalination.  Keeping our water ways clean is very important.  Pollution is one of the major contributing factors to non-usable water, and it is our best interest, both for our health and the health of our children and animals to keep our water as clean as possible.  It is especially important to conserve water during times of draught, as many of us have experienced in the past, especially during the summer months.  Water plays a strategic role in raising crops and cattle for our food, not only in the United States but in other countries from where we import supplies. 
 
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CONSERVE WATER?
 
In The Kitchen:

- Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.

- Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household.

- When washing dishes, if you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and one with clean water for rinsing. If you only have one sink, plug it up and wash in the soapy water, then put the dishes on the dish rack and spray them clean.

- When washing fruits or vegetables, fill the sink with clean water (or a bowl; kitchen sinks, admittedly, are sometimes a little yucky) rather than running the food under the tap.

In the Bathroom: 

Showers:

Replace you showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.

Bathtubs:

Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only one-third full. Stopper the tub before turning water on. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.

Both:

When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperatures

At the sink:

After you have wet your toothbrush and filled a glass for rinsing your mouth, there is no need to keep water pouring down the drain. Turn off the water until it's time to clean the brush.

If you shave at the sink, partially fill your sink with a few inches of warm water before you start. This will rinse your blade just as efficiently as running water, and far less wastefully.

Toilets:

Toilets automatically stop filling when the water reaches a certain level. Putting something in your toilet tank can trick it into using less water. Some public works departments, asks that homeowners do not use a brick, as it can lead to debris getting in the system. A plastic bottle full of sand (or even water) can do the same thing as a brick and is the method recommended. It's not about weight; it's about displacement.

Check for Leaks:

Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.

Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Make sure you flush as soon as the test is done, since food coloring may stain the tank.
 
Check all faucets, pipes, and toilets periodically for leaks.
A faucet drip or invisible leak in the toilet will add up to 15 gallons of water a day, or 105 gallons a week, which adds up to 5,475 gallons of wasted water a year.  Check you flapper periodically to make sure it's a tight fit.
 
Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket:  Using a wastebasket instead of the toilet for tissues and other bits of trash will save gallons of water that are otherwise wasted.
 
Reuse fish tank water:  Use fish tank water on your household plants.  Besides saving water, it's a good fertilizer.
 
Save Water Outside
An automatic sprinkler system can be set to water the lawn for a specified amount of time.  this saves your time and waters the lawn evenly.  If you don't have an automatic sprinkling system, set a kitchen timer.  A lot of water can be wasted in a short period of time if you forget to run your sprinklers off.  Outdoor faucets can flow a rates as high as 300 gallons per hour.
 
Water the lawn only when needed:  Step on the grass; if it springs back up when you move your foot, it does not need water.
 
Don't water the pavement:  Positions sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn or garden, not in areas where it is not needed.  Also avoid watering when it is windy.  Wind causes water to evaporate quickly and blows water onto areas where it is not needed.
 
Water without waste:  Interrupt watering when puddles or runoff occur.  This allows the water to penetrate into the soil before resuming irrigation.
 
Keep lawn free of weeds:  Weeds are water thieves and will rob your plants of water and nutrients.  Spot spray or remove weeds as they appear. 
 
Accept a less than lush lawn:  Grass will naturally go dormant during periods of drought, but will readily regenerate when water becomes available.  Reduce traffic on stressed turf areas if possible.
 
Match fertilizer to the plant requirement:  fertilizer applications require additional water.  Excess fertilizer stimulates top growth.  often to the detriment of the root system.  Learn to accept turf grasses with low water needs.
 
Consider a NO-MOW Lawn: 

"No Mow" Low Maintenance Grass Mix -  

Wild Habitats "No Mow" lawn mix is a special blend of six slow growing perennial fine Fescue grasses.  

The low maintenance turf seed mix is an alternative to traditional lawns and offer: little if any watering, limited mowing (only a couple times a year), little to no fertilizer, healthier environment, thrives in full sun to part shade and forms dense turf, and saves time and money!

Reduce your lawn maintenance time dramatically.  Just think what you could do instead of mowing your yard once or twice a week!
Mow as infrequently as possible:  Mowing puts the grass under additional stress that requires more water.
 
Mow higher than normal:  Longer leaf surfaces projo9te deeper rooting and shade the root zone.  Never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf in one mowing.  Return mulched clippings to the lawn.
 
Use a broom to clean the driveway and sidewalk:  Sweeping the driveway and sidewalk will get them clean enough without wasting gallons of water.
 
Don't let the water run while washing the car:  Get the car wet, then turn off the water while you soap the car down using a bucket of soapy water.  Turn on the water again for a final rinse.  Use the bucket of soapy water on the flower bed or garden.
 
Don't use the sprinklers just to cool off or for play:  Running through water from a hose or sprinkler is fun but wastes gallons of water.
 
Move sprinkler heads away from curbs or sidewalks:  A mulch, bark, or rock area at least 8 inches wide adjacent to sidewalks and curbs will help eliminate water waste.
 

 

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The contents are the property of Martin SWCD.  The District's goal is to provide quality and accurate information.  All information within this site is subject to change and should only serve as a guideline for the District's services and procedures.  For the most Current and accurate information please contact the District at (507) 235-6680.