Nonpoint Source
Pollution
Why are some of our
waters still too dirty
for swimming, fishing
or drinking? Why are
native species of plants
and animals disappearing
from many rivers, lakes,
and coastal waters?
The answer is easy,
the solution is easy,
but the difficulty is
contacting the polluters
and teaching them how
to stop. Who are the
polluters? We are.
Nonpoint Source (NPS)
pollution is the primary
cause of water quality
degradation today. NPS
pollution occurs when
rainfall or snowmelt
runs over the land,
picks up pollutants,
and releases them into
rivers, lakes, and coastal
waters. As water runs
over the ground, the
seemingly negligible
amounts of chemicals
and other pollutants
around your home and
premises get picked
up and carried via storm
drains to surface waters.
The ramifications include
polluted drinking water,
beach closings, and
endangered wildlife.
Imagine the path taken
by a drop of rain from
the time it hits the
ground to when it reaches
a river, bay, or the
ocean. Any pollutant
it picks up on its journey
can become part of the
NPS problem. NPS pollution
also includes adverse
changes to vegetation,
and the shape and flow
of area streams. It
also impairs aquatic
organisms.
NPS pollutants are
sediment, nutrients,
pesticides, pathogens
(bacteria and viruses),
salts, oil, grease,
toxic chemicals, and
heavy metals. Beach
closures, destroyed
habitat, unsafe drinking
water, fish kills, and
many other severe environmental
and human health problems
result from NPS pollutants.
Each year New Jersey
spends millions of dollars
to restore and protect
areas damaged by NPS
pollution.
So what can you do
to help protect surface
and ground waters from
so-called nonpoint-source
pollution? You can start
at home. Begin by taking
a close look at practices
around your house that
might be contributing
to polluted runoff:
You may need to make
some changes. The following
are some specific tips
on what you can do to
become part of the solution
rather than part of
the problem of nonpoint
source pollution.
Lawn Care
- When landscaping
your yard, select
native plants that
have low requirements
for water, fertilizers,
and pesticides.
- Place rain barrels
or cisterns under
downspouts for watering
gardens.
- Preserve existing
trees, and plant trees
and shrubs to help
prevent erosion and
promote infiltration
of water into the
soil. Minimize grassed
areas that require
high maintenance.
- Compost lawn clippings
and place in gardens
as a soil conditioner
and source of nutrients.
- Avoid application
of fertilizers. Fertilizers
can leach into ground
water or contaminate
rivers or lakes. If
you live adjacent
to a waterway, do
not use lawn fertilizers.
- Keep storm gutters
and drains clean of
leaves and yard trimmings.
(Decomposing vegetative
matter leaches nutrients
and can clog storm
systems and result
in flooding.)
- Clean up after your
pets. Pet waste contains
nutrients and pathogens
that contaminate surface
water.
Household Chemicals
- Take unwanted household
chemicals to the hazardous
waste collection center
on Shafto Road in
Tinton Falls. The
facility is open Tuesday
through Saturday 8:00
AM to 12:00 PM and
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
by scheduled appointments
only. To schedule
an appointment, please
call 732-922-2234.
Do not pour chemicals
on the ground or down
the drain. Pouring
chemicals down the
drain may contaminate
sewage treatment plant
sludge or disrupt
your septic system.
- Leftover household
pesticide? Do not
indiscriminately spray
pesticides, either
indoors or outdoors,
where a pest problem
has not been identified.
Dispose of excess
pesticides at the
hazardous waste collection
center.
- Recycle used oil
and antifreeze by
taking them to the
Middletown recycling
center on Kanes Lane.
Never put used oil
or other chemicals
down stormdrains or
in drainage ditches.
(One quart of oil
can contaminate up
to two million gallons
of drinking water!)
Community Action
- Participate in clean-up
activities in your
neighborhood.
- Write or call your
elected representatives
to inform them about
your concerns and
encourage legislation
to protect water resources.
- Get involved in
local planning and
zoning decisions and
encourage your local
officials to develop
environmental protection
ordinances.