Phosphate

Excessive phosphorus in a freshwater system increases plant and algal growth. This can lead to: changes in number and type of plants and animals; increases in animal growth and size; increases in turbidity; more organic matter falling to the bottom of the system in the form of dead plants and animals; and losses of oxygen in the water.

Using phosphate-free detergents, personal care and household cleaning products is a way to prevent the growth of blue-green algae.

In addition you can take these ADDITIONAL simple steps to prevent the growth of blue-green algae:

• avoid using fertilizers on lawns, especially fertilizers that contain phosphorus
• maintain a natural shoreline on lake and riverfront properties
• check septic systems to ensure they do not leak into the water source

Reducing our use of phosphorus-based products is an easy step to improve the water quality of our lakes.  

Antibacterial 

FOCA has posted recent news about the threat faced and the actions needed, to reduce the threat to our freshwater resources from antibacterial chemicals

So-called “antibacterial” products are everywhere today - in stores, homes and classrooms around the world - to reduce the spread of colds and other infections.  And many products labelled as ‘antibacterial’, ‘fights odours’ or ‘kills germs’ may contain triclosan or tricocarban. 

The consequences of flushing triclosan down the sink means our lake filling up with undesirable chemicals and triclosan is one of the most troublesome. 

In the water, triclosan can attach to sediment and accumulate over time, potentially posing a risk to aquatic organisms and plants.

When waters contaminated with triclosan are exposed to sunlight, toxic byproducts are released including four types of dioxins, a known carcinogen.

Research is ongoing to better understand the effects of triclosan on rivers, streams, and lakes. 

Microbeads

Microbeads, are minuscule bits of plastic, typically under 5mm in size, which are used as abrasive exfoliants in products such as toothpastes and facial cleaners. 

They often evade water filtration systems and flow into rivers, lakes and streams, where they can be mistaken for food by fish. Pollutants can bind to the plastic, causing toxic material to infect fish and, potentially, the humans that consume them. 

Think about this - on our lake, there are no such water filteration systems. Every time we use a shower gel or a body wash, those bits of plastic are set into the ecosystem - forever. They do not disintegrate.  No septic system or leaching pit will retain or remove them from our waste water.