6 Habits to Fall in Love with this Autumn

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The leaves are falling, temperatures are cooling, and many of us are preparing our homes for winter. Fall is a great time for cleaning up around the house, but let’s not forget to keep water quality in mind while doing so.

There are sources of water pollution that are unique to autumn, such as yard wastes, excess fertilizers, and many others. We have prepared a list of pollution prevention tips so that you can help protect water quality this fall!

Leave the leaves. Leaf litter and other yard wastes dumped into streets or local bodies of water can cause flooding and harmful nutrient overload. If you can, leave the leaves on your property; they make for great additions to compost piles or can be mulched into your lawn. If you can’t leave the leaves, check with your township or city for yard waste collection dates.

Fertilize with care. Many homeowners fertilize their lawns and gardens in the fall to give them an extra boost before spring. If you plan on using fertilizers, make sure to use them in accordance with their label. And remember, less is more; any extra fertilizer not absorbed into the soil can wash away and cause problems in our lakes, rivers, and streams. Soil test before using fertilizers so that you know what nutrients your lawn and garden needs!

Watch the weather. Fall weather (and weather in general here in Michigan) is unpredictable. It’s important to watch the forecast before using chemicals, such as fertilizers or herbicides, as they could be washed away by a rainstorm if not given the proper amount of time to absorb. Avoid watering your plants if rain is on the way; conserving water outside will prevent excess runoff from entering nearby storm drains.

Keep it covered. Planning on doing landscaping projects around your property this fall? Any bare soil poses a risk to water quality as it can be carried away by the wind or washed into nearby surface water during a rainstorm. Using straw or erosion control materials to cover bare spots is a good place to start; large mounds of soil can be covered with tarps.

Look for leaks. Fall is a great time to check for leaky faucets and pipes. Checking for leaks now will prevent any issues during the freezing winter months. Water conservation around the home helps keep our waste treatment systems running smoothly and reduces polluted runoff into our lakes and rivers.

Be septic smart. When completing your fall to-do list, don’t forget your septic system! It’s important to get your septic system inspected and/or pumped before winter to help save you, your property, and our water from any issues that might arise during the winter months. You can also insulate the drain field with straw to protect the pipes from freezing. Maintaining your septic system is key to protecting our waterways from any harmful wastewater.

Extra caution while completing your fall to-do list can make a big difference in the health of our watersheds. We, and our water, thank you for doing your part to protect water quality!

This information is part of a larger project funded by EGLE under the NPS Control Fund and Section 319 of the federal CWA.

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