Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Where does storm water from your yard end up? In the Great Lakes. Where do many communities get their drinking water? Same answer. Even water from a ground water well is linked to surface water.

The Earth’s supply of water is limited to the water presently available. Water is continuously recycled, moving from one place to another and from one form to another. Water vapor rising from surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, will fall back to the earth as rain. Rain percolates into the soil and runs off solid surfaces into surface waters. When it rains, pollutants from yards, streets, parking lots, and rooftops are washed into storm drains that are directly connected to our streams and rivers. Water (and other liquids) from these drains do not receive treatment to remove contaminants before they are dumped into surface waters.

Protecting the quality of water is vital for our health. To help improve water quality:

• Properly dispose of used motor oil with a recycler.
• Mow grass no shorter than 3 inches high. Roots will grow healthier and water will be absorbed instead of running off into storm drains. Leave mulched grass clippings on the lawn as a natural fertilizer.
• Test your soil for nutrient levels before applying commercial fertilizers. Often 4 or 5 applications per season are used, although most Michigan soils need just one application in the fall. If you must fertilize, use a low phosphorous product.
• Use natural pesticides on gardens and lawns.

For more information about water quality, call the Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3190 or visit the Flint River Watershed Coalition website at www.flintriver.org.