Prevent Polluting Runoff

GVRD and Hilary Henegar, GardenWise Online editor | Image: Jupiter Images

As water flows over and through your yard, contaminants and debris – such as fertilizers, pesticides, sediments, toxins and bacteria – are carried into receiving waters. But yours is not the only yard on the block, and there are many, many blocks that make up a city or suburb.

The cumulative effect of all those pollutants and waste being "washed away" has a tremendous impact on the environment, affecting the groundwater — a source for high-quality drinking water for many who live in the Fraser Valley and around the Lower Mainland — and the rivers, lakes and oceans that host, among other things, salmon, oysters and whales — important not only as links in the food chain but, on a purely economic level, as vital agents in the economy of British Columbia.

Homeowners and gardeners can help prevent and control such pollution by limiting yard runoff and making sure it is clean: Limit or ban outright the use of pesticides and fertilizers in your garden or yard. Non-toxic, organic alternatives abound; one great resource for finding eco-friendly solutions for pest control and nutrient building is GardenWise Online's Sustainable Gardening section.

Residents of cities like Victoria that don't treat sewage should take special care to implement more environmentally friendly means to minimize the impact to marine life in the Juan de Fuca Strait, where the resident pod of orca whales has seen a dramatic population drop in recent years.

But if you feel you must use the more potent tools for these tasks, be sure to dispose of leftover pesticides and fertilizers at an approved collection centre. (Check with your municipal authorities.)

Here's a good list of Do's:

Use natural approaches to control pests.
Compost kitchen waste and use it as an alternative to commercial fertilizers.
Don’t over-water lawns and gardens. One inch of water per week during the hottest part of the summer is all that is required in most parts of B.C.
Sweep driveways and lawns – don’t spray them with a hose. It may take longer to do, but it's worth the savings in freshwater usage as well!
Use pervious materials for constructing driveways and walks (rather than concrete or pavement) to increase filtration and decrease runoff. Recent innovations have seen recycled tires being used in permeable asphalt and concrete, which allow rainwater to seep through the paved surface, which naturally filters pollutants and recharges aquifers.
Select plants with low watering and fertilizing requirements.
Mulch your lawn clippings to reduce the need to fertilize.
Clean up after your pets. Pet wastes contain nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, and disease-causing bacteria and pathogens that can contaminate surface waters. Learn how to deter your pooch from using the whole lawn to do his business here.