When living on a lake, it is crucial to make sure you do your part to keep the water clean. Within this article, you will learn of some easy ways to keep the lake clean and the wildlife healthy and happy.
Keep Pollution From the Drains
Unfortunately, many storm drains lead to the lakes and the streams. It is important to remove any waste away from the storm drains to it does not end up in the water. Some items that end up in storm drains are:
- Oil
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Cleaning Chemicals
In order to make this happen, there are tasks you can perform. When it comes to leaves or fertilizer, sweep it back into your yard and bag it up instead of letting it wash away from your driveway. If you have any chemicals that need to be dumped, do so in a responsible manner.
Fertilize with Care
Improper fertilization will harm the water. When you fertilize improperly, it will end up in the storm drain. It will then lead to the water and use up the air that the wild life needs to thrive under the water.
Do not leave fertilizer on paved surfaces, do not apply it to frozen land, and do not use the wrong type. Also make sure you do not over fertilize.
Dispose of Chemicals Correctly
Chemicals and household products can end up in the storm drains. Keep them out of the lakes and streams by taking them to the local hazardous waste center or wait for a collection day. Chemicals that are harmful include:
- Household Cleaners
- Gasoline
- Antifreeze
- Pesticides
- Solvents
- Paints
- Motor Oil
There are many places that will take these chemicals from you so that it does not harm the environment. It is your responsibility to get rid of them should you need to.
Maintain Your Boat Engine
Make sure that your boat engine is operating properly and not leaking. While even brand new engines leave behind some pollution, old and improperly serviced motors can really dump a lot of harmful pollutants into the water.
It is up to everyone near the lake to keep it clean. Even if you live near by, the storm drains can still be connected. Follow these tips to keep the lakes and water free of debris and dangerous chemicals or bacteria. We can all do our parts to keep each other healthy and safe.