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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) considers stormwater runoff from yards, gardens, driveways, streets and parking lots to be one of the most significant sources of contamination in the nation’s waters.
Homeowners use 10 times more chemicals per acre, in the form of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, than farmers use on crops. These chemicals are often washed off the lawn or garden with only a small amount of rainfall, or the lawn sprinkler that is used to water them in.
The excess rainwater carries these chemicals to the gutters and storm drains and deposits them in the nearest water body through the storm water drainage system.
Simple changes in lawn care habits can make a dramatic difference in areas waterways. Review the following ideas for changes in your lawn care habits: