Did you know that Mount Olive Township has ordinance #192-5 to regulate the outdoor application of phosphorous fertilizer?
This regulation allows us to protect and improve surface water quality and reduce excess nutrients entering its waterways. The Mount Olive Health Department urges residents to consider the potentially severe effects of using fertilizers. These toxins can adversely affect humans, animals, and the environment. Harmful fertilizers in waterways can also lead to algae blooms. Algae are tiny organisms that live in water and usually exist in small numbers. However, excessive amounts of nutrients from fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can enter the water and cause the algae to proliferate. When this occurs, algae produce a toxin known as harmful algal blooms (HABs).
As a result, when fertilizers enter these waterways via runoff from farms, lawns, or other sources, they act as "food" for this algae. These Blooms can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the water's surface. A bloom can change the color of the water to green, blue, brown, red, or another color. Reducing the amount of fertilizers entering waterways is essential to prevent harmful algal blooms. This can be done by:
- using fertilizers sparingly (following Ordinance #192-5 guidelines)
- correctly timing their application (noting rainfall and growing season)
- following best management practices to prevent runoff
- maintaining your septic
This ordinance restricts the application of phosphorus fertilizer in outdoor areas except as demonstrated to be needed for the specific soils and target vegetation. In addition, it prohibits applying fertilizer when a runoff-producing rainfall occurs on impervious (resistant to infiltration by water) surfaces and when applying fertilizer within the buffer of any water body. If you would like to find more information about the specifics of the ordinance and how you can play a role in improving the environmental health of our community, please check out the additional links below.
Additional Useful links: