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Main > Public Works > PW Lakes
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There a number of measures that citizens can take to assist in keeping Lakeland's lakes and wetlands clean and healthy. Below are a number of different activities, that when done properly and with consideration can minimize environmental impacts.
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City Code Violation |
Maintaining your lawn....
Did you know that anytime someone pours or sweeps anything into the street, it most likely ends up in our lakes?
Did you know that it is actually illegal to leave yard debris or grass clippings in the street because they cause clogged sewer lines, as well as algal blooms and fish kills in our lakes and waterways?
City Code Ch 86 Section 86-3
Sec. 86-3. Dirt, filth, etc., on streets and alleys prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, spill, place, deposit or leave, or cause to be thrown, spilled, placed, deposited or left, or to permit any servant, agent or employee to throw, spill, place, deposit in or upon any street, highway, alley, sidewalk, park or other public place in the city any dirt, sweepings, filth, shells, garbage, vegetables, dead carcasses, sewage, slops, excrement, compost, stable manure, ashes, soot, tin cans, rags, wastepaper, leaves, brush, weeds, grass, straw, hay, excelsior, shavings, barrels, crates, boxes, litter or loose combustible material; materials subject to be carried by the wind; or unwholesome, noisome or putrescible matter of any kind.
(Code 1960, § 15.06)
Helpful Yard Maintenance Practices:
When you mow or edge your lawn, please direct the grass clippings back into your yard and not into the street.
Blow or sweep up grass clippings that have made their way onto the street.
Keep street clear of leaves and other yard debris that could easily be washed into the storm drains.
Compost, mulch, or bag leaves and grass clippings instead. Compost can be a high nutrient source for your yard and help reduce fertilizer use.
In addition, make your lawn service aware of these practices so that they can comply with City ordinances.
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Fertilizing Your Yard...
Fertilizing and Watering Your Lawn and Landscape to Protect Florida's Springs
The following recommendations come from the guidebook "What You Need to Know About Fertilizing and Watering Your Lawn and Landscape to Protect Florida's Springs". These guidelines apply just as well for protecting lakes and wetlands and have been edited to reflect this. The above link will allow you to request a copy of your own:
Fertilizer nutrients will generally be useful to your lawn and landscape plants only if they are kept in the root zone. Fertilizer washed away by runoff or washed below the root zone by excessive watering or rainfall is a waste of your money and can pollute lakes and wetlands.
Some other items to note:
Fertilize your lawn at the right times of the year for the best results and protection of lakes and wetlands.
Learn to use the information printed on the fertilizer label. It's the key to protecting your lakes and wetlands.
Dry (granular) fertilizers, with 35% or more of the nitrogen in a slow-release/slowly available form, can generally be safely applied according to package directions. High-percent slow-release/slowly available nitrogen is less likely to be lost below the root zone.
Dry (granular) fertilizers with less than 35% slow-release nitrogen should not be applied according to package directions, but should be split into two applications.
Liquid-applied fertilizers generally do not contain slow-release/slowly available nitrogen but contain safe amounts of nitrogen if applied according to package directions. However, they can be difficult to apply evenly and in the correct amount. They require more frequent applications and can be more expensive to use than slow-release/slowly available nitrogen fertilizers.
It's best to use fertilizers derived from sludge/biosolids, such as Milorganite*, just before the start of the rainy season. They are less likely to be washed below the root zone during heavy summer rains.
Use a lawn fertilizer with 4% or less phosphorus, unless you've had your soil tested. Most Florida soils contain enough phosphorus to keep the lawn healthy. Excess phosphorus can pollute lakes and wetlands.
Maintain a 15-foot unfertilized buffer area around water bodies and sinkholes.
Never water your lawn or landscape before applying fertilizers, unless required by the package.
*The use of registered brand names is for illustrative purposes only and is not be construed as a endorsement of any particular product or type of product. These fertilizers may also be available from your local wastewater utility.
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Xeriscaping...
A Xeriscape is Florida-friendly landscaping that saves water and protects the environment through the reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers. Xeriscape may also require much less maintenance than traditional landscaping. Xeriscape landscaping is based on seven basic principles that can be successfully applied anywhere:
Plan and Design—Plants should be grouped according to water and sunlight needs. Plants needing full sun should be grouped separately from those needing shade or moist soil. Ground covers can add interest and color to a landscape and can be used to fill in areas in place of grass
Obtain a Soil Analysis—Knowing your soil type will help you make better decisions about the plants you need and the way you’ll water. Your county’s extension service can determine your soil’s pH.
Choose Proper Plants—Virtually any plant can be used in a Xeriscape landscape, even your favorites, such as roses, gardenias and annuals. The key is to group these plants separately so they can be watered as needed, without watering the entire yard. Consider using native plants, which are more drought and pest tolerant, thus minimizing the need for fertilizer and pesticides.
Use Turf Wisely—Most grasses require more water, fertilizer and pesticides than other areas of landscape. In a Xeriscape, grass is used where it is most practical, such as in a play area for children. Ground covers, decks, and walkways are often used to reduce grass in Xeriscape landscapes.
Irrigate Efficiently—Overwatering depletes our water supply, makes plants prone to pests, and adds to stormwater runoff. Irrigate only when your lawn and landscape need water. If you have an irrigation system, use sensors, or rain-shutoff device to maximize efficiency. And, for best results, water in the early morning (4-7 a.m.). This is the most efficient time because temperatures and wind speeds are at their lowest, therefore reducing evaporation rates.
Use Mulches—A 3” layer of mulch will improve the appearance of your landscaped beds, as well as reduce weed growth, moderate soil temperatures, minimize erosion, and help retain soil moisture.
Perform Proper Maintenance—A good landscape design incorporating the right plants in the right places can reduce maintenance requirements and costs. It will be necessary for most yards to perform some maintenance such as mowing, pruning and raking. Lawn clippings, leaves, and yard trimmings can be recycled on site to provide nutrients to soil and reduce waste disposal.
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Washing your car...
What’s the problem with car washing?
There is no problem washing your car depending on how and where you do it. Many soaps contain phosphates and most car-care products contain chemicals that may harm aquatic life and degrade water quality. The soap, together with the dirt and oil washed from your car, flows into nearby storm drains which empty directly into our lakes and rivers. Too much phosphorus can cause excessive aquatic plant growth and the depletion of oxygen, which can ultimately lead to algae blooms and fish kills.
How can you wash your car and keep our waters clean?
Use soap sparingly. Use a hose nozzle with a trigger to save water.
Pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you are done, not in the street.
Wash your car on a grassy area so the ground can filter the water naturally.
Best of all, take your car to a commercial car wash, especially if you plan to clean the engine or the bottom of your car. Most car washes reuse water several times before sending it to the wastewater treatment facility.
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Motor Oil Use…
What’s the problem with motor oil?
Oil does not dissolve in water. Oil spills last a long time and can stick to everything from beach sand to bird feathers. Oil and other petroleum products are toxic to people, wildlife and plants. One pint of oil can make a slick larger than a football field. Oil that leaks from our cars onto roads and driveways is washed into storm drains, or directly to a lake or stream. Used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollutants in our lakes, streams, and rivers. Americans spill about 180 million gallons of used oil each year into our waters. This is 16 times the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska.
How can you use and change your motor oil and help keep our waters clean?
Stop drips. Check for oil leaks regularly and fix them promptly. Keep your car tuned to reduce oil use.
Use ground cloths or drip pans beneath your vehicle if you have leaks or are doing engine work. Clean up spills immediately. Collect all used oil in containers with tight fitting lids. Do not mix different engine fluids.
Never dispose of oil or other engine fluids down the storm drain, on the ground or into a ditch. Recycle used motor oil. Many auto supply stores and gas stations will accept used oil.
Buy recycled (re-fined) motor oil to use in your car.
Stop drips. Check for oil leaks regularly and fix them promptly. Keep your car tuned to reduce oil use.
Use ground cloths or drip pans beneath your vehicle if you have leaks or are doing engine work. Clean up spills immediately. Collect all used oil in containers with tight fitting lids. Do not mix different engine fluids.
Never dispose of oil or other engine fluids down the storm drain, on the ground or into a ditch. Recycle used motor oil. Many auto supply stores and gas stations will accept used oil.
Buy recycled (re-fined) motor oil to use in your car.
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Picking Up After Your Dog...
According to the EPA, a national survey of 500 dog owners found that 80% didn’t know that dog waste posed a bacterial threat to humans and waterways. Another similar survey found that 41% of respondents rarely or never pick up after their dogs.
People may think “It’ll just go away eventually…” or “I have a small dog, it’s not that much to worry about”; but with over 68 million dogs throughout the United States, not picking up after them can become a huge problem. This gives you an idea of how much waste could potentially be entering our environment, and how much difference it would make if owners disposed of feces the right way.
But not only are dog feces smelly and unattractive, they contain many types of bacteria that can negatively affect our natural ecosystems. Furthermore, this same bacteria can be hazardous to humans if waste reaches a groundwater supply as a result of activities as simple as a rain event or watering your lawn.
Here are some ways to properly dispose of dog waste:
Pick it up and flush it down the toilet. This is the best solution since your community waste water treatment facilities or septic systems will treat pet waste the same as anything else, and there’s no chance of bacteria entering a water source.
Dispose of the waste in the garbage, sealed in a plastic bag or other container.
Bury small quantities in a hole in your yard. Just remember to make the hole deep enough and far away enough from any vegetable gardens or sprinkler systems.
Picking up after your dog is both a courtesy to your neighbors and to the environment. Remember, everything you do affects our lake systems; and making right choices can make the difference in having a healthy community.
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Installing A Rainbarrel...
How To Make A Rainbarrel
Installing a rain barrel at your house can be an easy and beneficial way to recycle rain water for uses around your yard.
A rainbarrel is any container used to harvest rainwater for alternative uses. They can be made from many different containers, as long as the material is smooth and nonporous. The best choice is a heavy-grade, plastic barrel, such as a 50-gallon food storage drum. These drums can be purchased inexpensively from suppliers. Nevertheless any barrel can be outfitted with a spigot and attached to a roof gutter to begin catching rainwater.
Collected rainwater can be used for a variety of purposes. A hose can be attached to the spigot for watering your lawn and flower beds or you can fill a watering can straight from the barrel itself. Rainwater can also be used to keep your compost pile damp. However you choose to use one, a rainbarrel can substantially cut down on the amount of municipal or well water you expend. A normal ½ inch rainfall event can be expected to fill a 50 gallon barrel, so it won’t be long before you will have a substantial alternative water supply.
Visit the link above for helpful tips on creating your own barrel.
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