Environmental Protection

Solutions for Pollution

We are all sources of pollution, but we can minimize our impacts by following simple Best Management Practices (BMPs). To reduce excesive nutrients that can choke our lakes and springs and fecal coliform bacteria that pollute our streams we can:

  • Eliminate the use of fertilizers in our yards (or at least use minimal slow release no phosphorus fertilizer)
  • Plant native vegetation that doesn't require fertilizers, pesticides, or excessive water
  • Scoop up pet wastes and flush it, bury it, or bag it up and put it in the trash
  • Have our septic tanks inspected and pumped every 2-3 years
  • Upgrade to an advanced septic system
  • Minimize stormwater leaving our property by using rain barrels and rain gardens
  • Put cooking grease in a container and then in the trash- never put it down the drain
  • Bring all hazardous materials to the Hazardous Waste Collection Center

Click on the titles to the left to learn how you can minimize your personal pointless pollution!

 

 

 

Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Fact Sheets

For tips on reducing your impacts on the enviornment while gardening click HERE

Florida Friendly Landscaping

It is easy to forget that what you do in your yard may affect the streams and lakes in our county. To learn more about plants that don't require much water, fertilizers, or pesticides check out FloridaYards.org  This site site even has an interactive yard so you can start planning how to make your landscape more environmentally friendly today!

 Visit St Johns River Water Management District to learn how you can use less water!

Water Conservation

Did you know you may be breaking the law by watering your lawn?  If you live within the St Johns River Water Management District you are only allowed to water your lawn twice a week before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM.   In the Suwannee River Water Management  you can irrigate established lawns and landscaping between the hours of 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM on even numbered days for locations with street addresses ending in an even number and on odd numbered days for locations with street addresses ending in an odd number, starting on  April 7, 2008.  Although it may seem like we have lots of water here in Alachua County, we still need to conserve water and change our wasteful habits.