Adopt a Drain – Spring
It’s time for our ‘Adopt a Drain’ newsletter – spring edition!
As we gear up for the warmer days ahead, it’s time to talk about responsible gardening – especially when it comes to using fertilisers and chemical sprays. Let’s get into it, shall we!
An ‘Adopt a Drain’ refresher:
Whatever goes down our storm drains eventually flows (untreated!) into our waterways. ‘Adopt a Drain’ encourages individuals and groups to adopt the storm drains in their neighbourhood, making a pledge to help keep it clear of pollutants. By doing so, we can keep our lakes and rivers swimmable, protect aquatic life and maintain the health of our ecosystems.
STORMWATER AWARENESS
Responsible gardening for our freshwater
Your gardening habits could be impacting our lakes and rivers, even if you live kilometers away from them.
Fertiliser, herbicide use and other lawn care practices can be big contributors to stormwater pollution.
When it rains, excess fertiliser, chemical sprays and grass clippings are picked up by stormwater as runoff, eventually making their way into our lakes and rivers.
Nutrients found in fertilisers can cause excess algae growth in our waterways, eventually depriving aquatic organisms of vital oxygen and depleting fish populations.
Chemical sprays are toxic to more than just the pests they target, they also harm microorganisms that live within the soil. When they enter our waterways as stormwater runoff, many herbicides and pesticides harm aquatic life and have adverse effects on human health.
SOMETIMES A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY
Tips and tricks to trial this spring
Clear water is crucial for healthy ecosystems and enjoying our lakes and rivers. Below are 5 gardening tips for keeping pollutants out of our waterways:
1. Fertilise sparingly
Read instructions carefully before applying fertiliser and only use what is necessary. Check the weather forecast before use and hold off on application if it is likely to rain within 48 hours.
2. Mindful weed control
Hand pick or spot treat for weeds and other pests on your property where possible. Store all chemicals and fertilisers in a secured, covered area and read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) carefully before use. Always check the forecast before using chemical sprays (of any sort!) and never spray if rain is forecasted.
3. Try mulching
Mulch is a great alternative to chemical sprays for weed suppression. It also helps provide nutrients to growing plants. View our Mulch 101 resource to get started today.
4. Be sprinkler smart
Adjust sprinklers to direct water exclusively onto lawns and gardens and be careful not to overwater, as this can cause fertiliser to wash away as stormwater runoff.
5. Less lawns, more native gardens and meadows
Turning your lawn into a meadow or native garden is not only beneficial for local birds, lizards and insects, it always helps mitigate stormwater pollution by providing a natural filtration system and allowing more rainwater to go to ground. Meadows also reduce the need for spraying and require much less maintenance than grass lawns – need we say more?
An amazing example of a lawn turned meadow from ‘Rewilding Magazine‘.
GAINING MOMENTUM
Help us spread the word
The ‘Adopt a Drain’ whānau continues to grow throughout the Upper Clutha, showcasing the incredible passion our local communities have for protecting our waterways. But we’re not stopping here – we’re on a mission to keep this momentum going, reducing stormwater pollution every step of the way!
Do you know a household in our area that might be interested?
Share this post and help us grow this initiative. We encourage anyone interested to get in touch by emailing jaylene@waiwanaka.nz
