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SOUTH FLORIDA
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Your Impact on the Environment
Improving Water Quality in Your Neighborhood
When people think of pollution or excess nutrients making their way into surface and groundwater systems, we often imagine industrial plants or large farms as the primary sources. But residents, businesses and visitors also contribute excess nutrients and other pollutants to South Florida's lakes, rivers and wetlands. Individuals and small businesses can reduce pollution in a number of ways: properly maintain local stormwater management systems; use fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides with care; and being aware of how easily household chemicals and other pollutants can be flushed into ground and surface water systems.
DID YOU KNOW? Nationwide, polluted runoff/storm water is considered to be the greatest threat to clean water!
On this website you'll find information about stormwater pollution prevention. You'll find tips on how to best use fertilizers and pesticides and maintain a healthy Florida landscape, home or business. Your actions can help reduce pollution and protect your community and the Everglades.
Water Quality and YOU
Stormwater: Know the Flow
Florida averages 55 - 60 inches of rainfall a year, with about two-thirds of that coming in the wet/rainy season, from June through November. When rain falls, South Florida landscapes are designed to channel excess storm water into communities' stormwater collection systems, into the swales in our driveways or other parts of our local or regional ponds, lakes or canals. Along the way, stormwater runoff can pick up all kinds of pollutants, including fertilizers and pesticides from lawns and yards as well as oils and coolant spilled from roadways and cars. Eventually, that stormwater runoff flows into lakes, rivers and wetlands and makes its way more gradually to the groundwater aquifers that supply our drinking water.
"First flush" is a term used to describe the flushing action storm water has on accumulated pollutants from roads, parking lots, driveways, lawns etc. – the first time it rains after a dry spell. This effect is even stronger the first time it rains after an extended dry period. That's because the initial stormwater runoff dislodges and removes most of the accumulated pollutants from these surfaces and carries them into lakes, ponds or canals. Once the first flush of polluted storm water is washed away, the water quality of storm water improves.
Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing and, in some cases, drinking water. Those stormwater collection systems are connected to canals that flow either to larger regional lakes, rivers, wetlands or to the ocean. What you do around the house can have significant impacts on South Florida's water quality.
Managing Every Drop [PDF]
Learn about the three levels of flood control – neighborhood, secondary and regional – and get tips for checking/maintaining your neighborhood drainage system.
Managing Flood Water Before and After the Storm [PDF]
Learn how you and your neighbors can evaluate and even improve your local drainage systems and prepare yourselves and your community for storms and drought.
MANAGING STORM WATER
A healthy wetland area around a pond or lake reduces erosion and provides a good habitat for fish and wildlife. It also reduces pollution by filtering out nutrients and chemicals. When the first flush of stormwater runoff is held back, in wetlands and other holding areas in local and regional systems, pollution is reduced.
Suggestions for maintaining healthy stormwater buffers include:
Where possible, construct berms on your property to retain storm water and prevent runoff.
Create buffer strips of vegetation along canals and roadways on your property to filter runoff and prevent soil erosion.
Maintain your property's existing slopes away from canals and roadways.
When managing your farm or landscaping your property, remember that you should never change the grading of slopes that drain into canals, waterways or lakes. The grading is based on state and local minimum requirements and was designed by a State of Florida Registered Professional Engineer to meet water quantity and quality criteria.
Properly maintain water retention areas on your property. Check your permit or easement and follow its specifications.
Leave a "ring of responsibility" around retention areas like local ponds, canals or lakes by not fertilizing close to the water. This untreated area will serve as a natural buffer zone.
Remove exotic and invasive vegetation from retention areas. These species can produce dense growth and decaying matter that threaten water quality.