THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

Rainwater running off streets and roofs toward storm drains collects pet waste, fertilizer, pesticides, oil and sediment and carries it to streams and rivers. During heavy rain in Richmond, the central portion of the city serviced by a combined sewer system can't accommodate filtering the extra water through the wastewater treatment plant. This dirty water goes right into the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Do your part to help:

Test your soil every three years to avoid over fertilizing. Test kits can be acquired from any city library or from the Richmond Cooperative Extension office at 701 N. 25th Street.

Reduce the size of your lawn. Reuse lawn clippings and fallen leaves by composting. It creates a free fertilizer that helps build healthy soil.

Don't fertilizer before it rains or on frozen ground. Rain washes fertilizer into the street and down storm drains. Excess nutrients create dead zones in the James River and Chesapeake Bay where no wildlife can live.

Say inside the lines. Sweep fertilizer that's fallen on pavement back onto your lawn or garden.

Established lawns don't need phosphorus. Unless your soil test kit says it's needed, select a fertilizer with 0 percent phosphorus.

Apply no more than one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet during a single application.

Participate in Richmond's Stormwater Credit program. Actively reduce stormwater runoff and reduce your stormwater fee by up to 50 percent by installing rain barrels and cisterns, planting a rain garden, using pervious pavers and vegetative filter strips.  Learn more here.

Small actions on everyone's part add up to healthier waters. To learn more about other ways you can help, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation or call 804-780-1392.