What Happens When Fertilizer Leaks Into a Lake?

What are Fertilizers?

• A fertilizer is a chemical or a mix of chemicals used to enrich the soil to promote better plant growth. Three chemicals are present in most fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is the most dangerous to the environment. Nitrogen levels in water can affect all the living creatures that call it home.

Fertilizer Water Pollution

• Over-fertilizing won't allow all the chemicals to soak into the soil. If it rains, the excess fertilizer can run off into a lake. The addition of chemicals to the lake water will often result in the growth of an abundance of algae. Once the algae die, bacteria will eat it. Bacteria uses oxygen during the decomposition process, which depletes the amount of oxygen that the fish and other aquatic life need in order to survive.

Proper Fertilizer Application

• Do not apply fertilizer close to a body of water, including lakes, streams, rivers and ponds, and especially near a water well. The chemicals in the fertilizer may leak into the well, contaminating the drinking water. To prevent contaminating water around your home, properly store fertilizer in a closed container. If you need to mix fertilizer, do so over a paved surface rather than on the lawn in case you have a spill.

Organic Fertilizer Alternative

• Many gardeners choose to use organic fertilizer, rather than chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizer is composed of naturally occurring substances, like animal manure and decomposed plants. This type of fertilizer releases drastically less nitrogen into the environment than chemical fertilizers do. Organic vegetables and organic fruit has not been grown with chemical fertilizer.