Water quality issues

Just read in today's News & Observer that the cities of Durham and Raleigh are arguing over who bares the cost of cleaning up Falls Lake. It's water quality is deteriorating due to nitrogen and phosphorus going into the lake. Durham does not benefit (receives no water) from the lake but some main tributaries flow through Durham County on their way to the lake.

When the state Division of Water Quality inserts additional rules later this year, the costs of the clean up will probably increase.

What does this have to do with rain gardens you might ask. Rain water that runs across all our properties eventually ends up flowing into a creek, river or lake. As the rain water flows, it picks up impurities (pollutants) such as lawn chemicals, animal wastes, agriculture chemicals and things like oil, gasoline, tire dust, etc. from our love of the automobile.

We can stop much of that run-off by putting a rain garden in our yard. Think many people doing one small thing that adds up to big benefits to our environment.