Sources and Solutions: In and Around the Home

Our homes - through appliances, yards, driveways and pet waste - contribute to nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution. 

Roadside storm drains often lead directly to local streams, rivers and lakes, so anything that flows into them enters local waterways without treatment. For example, residential areas can be a significant source of excess nutrients from over-fertilizing or over-watering yards. Additionally, pet waste contributes nitrogen, phosphorus, parasites and bacteria to water bodies when it is not disposed of properly, leading to water quality that is unsafe for people recreating.

Many laundry, dish and car washing soaps contain a form of phosphorus called phosphates, which are carried from our homes into the water system through our drains. We also add excess nitrogen to the atmosphere through the use of electricity in our homes. Most of our electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which release pollutants into the environment.