Help Protect our Rivers and Lakes Proposed approaches to Reducing Nutrient Contributions from urban and rural residential sources Fertilizer application Household cleaning products Background document for public consultation meetings September 2007
Foreword On November 8, 2006, Manitoba Water Stewardship released a draft Nutrient Management Regulation under The Water Protection Act (www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/wqmz/index.html). The regulation protects water quality by: encouraging responsible nutrient planning regulating the application of materials containing nutrients such as manure, synthetic fertilizers and municipal wastewater sludge restricting the development of certain types of facilities such as onsite wastewater systems (except holding tanks and composting toilets), manure storage facilities and wastewater treatment lagoons in environmentally sensitive areas While extensive consultations on the Nutrient Management Regulation were undertaken in 2005 and 2006, additional consultation is required on the most appropriate approach to manage nutrients in urban and rural residential areas. Some of the ways urban and rural residents contribute nutrients include: lawn fertilizers household cleaning products containing phosphorus Within the Lake Winnipeg watershed, nutrients in water come from a very large number of relatively small sources. Studies show that the amount of nutrients has gradually increased since the early 1970s. Since we all contribute to this problem, everyone must do their part to reduce nutrient use in both urban and rural areas. The following document provides information on how fertilizers used in urban and rural residential areas for cosmetic purposes and household cleaning products contribute nutrients to Manitoba s waterways. The document also outlines how Manitoba Water Stewardship proposes to reduce the nutrients from these sources and seek feedback from the public. Manitoba Water Stewardship invites you to provide any comments that you may have by September 21, 2007 to: Reducing Nutrients Manitoba Water Stewardship Water Quality Management Section Suite 160, 123 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A5 Phone: 204-945-3991 in Winnipeg; toll free at 1-800-282-8069 (extension 3991) E-mail: waterquality@gov.mb.ca i
Table of Contents Foreword... i Table of Contents...1 Introduction... 2 Application of Fertilizers for Cosmetic Purposes...3 Why are fertilizers applied for cosmetic purposes?...3 How do fertilizers applied for cosmetic purposes increase nutrients in surface water?...3 What is underway in other jurisdictions?...3 How are we proposing to reduce nutrient contributions from cosmetic fertilizers?...3 Household Cleaning Products... 4 What should you know about nutrients in household cleaning products?...4 How do household products increase nutrients in surface water?...4 What is underway in other jurisdictions?...4 How are we proposing to reduce nutrients in household cleaning products?...4 Education...5 Other Initiatives Underway in Manitoba to Reduce Nutrients in Manitoba s Waterways...5 1
Introduction What are nutrients? Nutrients are elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are essential for plant growth. Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in water promote the excess growth of algae and aquatic plants. Where do nutrients come from in Manitoba? In Manitoba, small amounts of nutrients come from many sources adding up to a large problem in lakes, such as Lake Winnipeg. While nutrients do occur naturally in the environment, additional nutrients come from municipal wastewater, septic fi elds, industry, agriculture, cleaning products, lawn and garden fertilizers along with soil and stream bank erosion. Nutrients also come from jurisdictions upstream of Manitoba including the United States and the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Other activities such as drainage and removal of riparian vegetation along the shorelines of rivers, lakes and streams can increase the amount of nutrients that move from land into water. What are algae? Algae occur naturally in all surface waters and range in size and shape from microscopic single cell organisms to giant seaweed several metres long. Algae are an important part of the aquatic ecosystem, providing food and oxygen to many aquatic organisms. What are algae blooms? When algae become very abundant or form floating clumps or scums along shorelines, they are called algae blooms. Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in water systems lead to the development of algae blooms. Algae blooms may make the water look like thick pea soup and emit a strong odour. Why are algae blooms a problem? Extensive algae blooms can cause a number of environmental and health problems. These include: Reduced recreational appeal Water with large algae blooms looks murky and smells foul, making it undesirable for swimming, wading and water-skiing. Degraded aquatic habitat Too much algae can produce low oxygen levels in the water when the algae decays, leading to winter and summer fi sh kills. Production of toxins Some species of blue-green algae can produce toxins that are harmful to the liver or nervous system if large amounts of water are swallowed. Algae toxins can affect people, livestock and pets that swim and drink from water with severe algae blooms. Degraded drinking water Excessive algae in municipal drinking water supplies can affect the taste and odour and increase treatment costs. Disruption of the commercial fish harvest Excess algae can clog fi shing nets. 2
Application of Fertilizers for Cosmetic Purposes Why are fertilizers applied for cosmetic purposes? Fertilizers are applied to lawns, golf courses and parks for cosmetic purposes to maintain a thick growth of rich, green grass. Fertilizers typically contain nutrients such as, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The three numbers on the fertilizer bag indicate the relative amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, in that order. The higher the number, the greater the amount of that particular nutrient. When the middle number is zero the fertilizer does not contain phosphorus. Many of Manitoba s soils have an abundant supply of natural phosphorus. However, fertilizers are often applied for cosmetic purposes without soil tests that would show whether the soil actually needs nitrogen or phosphorus. How do fertilizers applied for cosmetic purposes increase nutrients in surface water? Many fertilizers are applied for cosmetic purposes in larger amounts than can be used by growing grass and plants. With rain and snowmelt, excess nutrients can wash away into ditches and storm drains that lead directly to rivers and lakes. Unintentional over-application of fertilizers to sidewalks and driveways is often washed into ditches and storm drains that lead directly to rivers and lakes. Fertilizer applied to lake and river front properties is also easily washed into waterways. What is underway in other jurisdictions? Minnesota recently passed legislation to restrict the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus on most lawns. Fertilizers containing phosphorus may only be used on lawns if a soil test indicates that it is needed or on newly established lawns. These restrictions do not apply to fertilizers used for agricultural crops, flowers and vegetable gardens, or on golf courses when trained staff apply nutrients. In Minnesota, it is also illegal to spread any fertilizer, regardless of whether or not it contains phosphorus, on hard surfaces such as streets, sidewalks and driveways. A number of city councils, townships and counties in the United States have passed lawn fertilizer ordinances. These ordinances regulate the use and the application of lawn fertilizer, the sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and impose penalties for violations. Some of the conditions outlined in these ordinances include: - No lawn fertilizer can be applied when the ground is frozen. - No person can apply fertilizer to any impervious surface including parking lots, roadways and sidewalks. - Phosphorus limits ranging from no application to application only under specifi c conditions (low soil-test phosphorus, newly-established turf lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs). - Nitrogen limits requiring the use of slow release formulas and/or based on application rates of 0.5 to two kilograms per 93 square metres. How are we proposing to reduce nutrient contributions from cosmetic fertilizers? Under The Nutrient Management Regulation, the application of nutrients will be prohibited within buffer zones along rivers and lakes as of 2009. Buffer widths are outlined below: Water Body A (1) B (1) a lake or reservoir designated as vulnerable 30 m 35 m a lake or reservoir (not including a constructed stormwater retention pond) not designated as vulnerable a river, creek or stream designated as vulnerable 15 m 20 m a river, creek or stream not designated as vulnerable an order 3, 4, 5, or 6 drain or higher a major wetland, bog, swamp or marsh a constructed stormwater retention pond 3 m 8 m (1) Use column A if the applicable area is covered in permanent vegetation. Otherwise, use column B. Golf courses and driving ranges that apply nutrients would also be required to submit a nutrient management plan explaining how nutrients would be managed at the facility to ensure water quality protection. Manitoba Water Stewardship is proposing to follow a similar approach to Minnesota for restricting the application of cosmetic fertilizers to lawns in urban and rural residential areas. Fertilizers containing phosphorus could only be applied to lawns for cosmetic purposes within the first two years of establishment. Restrictions would come into effect in January 2009. Manitoba would work closely with the local retail sector to ensure that a range of phosphorus-free fertilizers are offered for sale in urban and rural residential areas. 3
Household Cleaning Products What should you know about nutrients in household cleaning products? Household, commercial and industrial cleaning products such as automatic dishwashing detergent, liquid dish soap, personal care products and multi-purpose cleaners often contain high amounts of phosphates. In Canada, only the phosphorus content of laundry detergents has been restricted through legislation. Federal legislation fi rst introduced in the 1970s requires laundry detergents to have no more than 2.2 per cent phosphorus (by weight as elemental phosphorus). Currently there are no provincial or federal regulations controlling phosphate in products such as dishwashing detergent and personal care products. How do household products increase nutrients in surface water? Phosphorus contained in household, commercial and industrial cleaning products is released directly to wastewater treatment plants and septic systems where there may be little or no treatment to remove phosphorus before releasing it to surface waters. Dishwasher detergents are a signifi cant source of phosphorus. Much of the water used for household purposes in Manitoba, including phosphorus from cleaning products, is eventually returned to surface water. What is underway in other jurisdictions? In several counties in the state of Washington, the sale and distribution of dishwashing detergents that contain more than 0.5 per cent phosphorus by weight will be prohibited as of July 1, 2008. By July 2010, this law will apply throughout the entire state. The law does not apply to the sale or distribution of detergents for commercial and industrial uses. This law will be the fi rst of its kind in the United States. A similar bill prohibiting the sale and distribution of dishwashing detergents that contain more than 0.5 per cent phosphorus by weight has recently passed by the Maryland House of Representatives and the Senate in the state of Maryland. Legislation to reduce phosphorus in dishwashing detergent has been introduced in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Illinois and Vermont but none have yet been passed. In Michigan, current laws specify maximum phosphorus content in a range of cleaning products for household, commercial and industrial use. Maximum phosphorus content ranges from 8.7 per cent for cleaning agents to 28 per cent for paint removers, metal cleaners and other industrial products. Switzerland allows phosphates in dishwashing liquid and dishwasher powder but sets a limit of 2.5 grams per washing cycle. In contrast to the approaches taken by most other jurisdictions, the European Union has chosen to reduce phosphorus in surface waters by treating the collected wastewater rather than controlling phosphorus in household products. How are we proposing to reduce nutrients in household cleaning products? Manitoba Water Stewardship will work closely with the federal government and with other provinces and territories to develop an effective and consistent national approach that would restrict the phosphorus content in household cleaning products. Considerable success has been achieved nationally in reducing phosphorus from laundry detergent. This has created a nation-wide market for phosphorus-reduced detergent. Given Manitoba s relatively small share of the national market for household cleaning products, a consistent national approach would minimize costs to consumers. In addition, since about 70 per cent of Manitoba s surface water originates in upstream jurisdictions, a Manitoba-only approach would be less effective. Should a consistent national approach not be developed, Manitoba proposes to develop its own regulatory approach. 4
Education Before implementing formal measures to reduce nutrients, Manitoba Water Stewardship is proposing to increase public awareness about these two sources: fertilizers applied to urban and rural residential areas for cosmetic purposes household cleaning products Brochures, website content and documents such as the Manitoba Water Protection Handbook will advise the public and stakeholders about the issues, proposed measures and timelines. Other Initiatives Underway in Manitoba to Reduce Nutrients in Manitoba s Waterways In addition to the proposal to manage nutrient from urban and rural residential areas, a number of other initiatives aimed at reducing nutrients in our water systems are underway. In February 2003, the Lake Winnipeg Action Plan was announced. The Lake Winnipeg Action Plan is a commitment to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen contributions to Lake Winnipeg by about 10 to 13 per cent, respectively. Activities underway to meet these goals include: The Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board released its second report to the Water Stewardship Minister on February 6, 2007. The report includes 135 recommendations in 38 different areas. It asks all Manitobans, and our neighbours, to work together and take action in the spirit of collective responsibility. Recommendations about the cosmetic use of phosphorus-based fertilizers and phosphorus content of cleaning supplies are included in the board s report. The province has issued new environment act licences for the City of Winnipeg s wastewater treatment plants, requiring full nutrient controls by 2014. New and expanding wastewater treatment facilities such as those serving the food-processing sector will be required to reduce nutrients. An amendment has been made to include phosphorus in The Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation. An agreement has been reached through the International Joint Commission s International Red River Board that all jurisdictions in the Red River basin will reduce nutrients to Lake Winnipeg by 10 per cent within fi ve years. This agreement was endorsed by the International Joint Commission. The Planning Act now includes measures to modernize land-use planning in Manitoba. This includes mandatory municipal land-use planning and the requirement for municipal development plans to include a livestock operations policy that sets out where livestock operations will be considered and where they will be prohibited. For more information www.manitoba.ca/waterstewardship 5
Manitoba Water Stewardship Water Quality Management Section Suite 160, 123 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A5 Phone: 204-945-3991 in Winnipeg; toll free at 1-800-282-8069 (extension 3991) E-mail: waterquality@gov.mb.ca For more information www.manitoba.ca/waterstewardship