Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Preventing Nonpoint Source Pollution

There are plenty of things Arkansans can do to help cut down on one of the state's biggest water quality threats nonpoint source pollution, says Rex Roberg of the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.

Some ideas from Roberg:

• Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of street gutters and storm drains. These outlets drain directly to lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands.

• Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions.

• Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints and other household chemicals properly, not in storm drains or sewers. If your community doesn't already have a program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask your local government to establish one.

• Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas.

• Manage animal waste to minimize contamination of surface water and ground water.

• Use planned grazing systems on pasture and rangeland.

• Compost grass clippings and leaves. Never allow them to wash into roadways where they will reach storm drains.

• Place litter, including cigarette butts, in trash cans. Never throw litter in streets or down storm drains.