Stormwater Pollution

Water Pollution

A major source of water pollution is stormwater runoff. Stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Stormwater can flow over and through streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites and pick up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants on the way to our surface waters. Stormwater runoff is our most common cause of water pollution. Because stormwater pollution is caused by so many different activities, traditional regulatory controls will only go so far. Education and outreach are key components to any successful stormwater program.

Did you know that...

• One of the largest sources of stormwater pollution is the general public.
• The most common pollutants are trash from fast food wrappers, cigarette butts and toxins from used oil, anti freeze, sewage overflows, pesticides, pet waste and fertilizer.

In fact fertilizer is such a concern that The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) adopted the final statewide Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule (PDF) in August of 2007. The rule significantly limits the phosphorous and nitrogen content in fertilizers for urban turf and lawns, application. The DACS expects a 20 to 25 percent reduction in nitrogen and a 15 percent reduction in phosphorus in every bag of fertilizer sold to the public. Commission of Agriculture Charles Bronson said, "By establishing responsible nitrogen and phosphorus use rates statewide, Florida's citizens can continue to care for their lawns and landscapes without sacrificing water quality."

Volusia County has also adopted Fertilizer Ordinance 2014-09 (PDF) which applies to all homes and businesses in Volusia County with the exception of Deltona and DeBary, which have their own fertilizer ordinances.