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Limiting Nutrients in Your Lake Excessive amounts of nutrients particularly phosphorus are carried into a water body with runoff from fertilized lawns golf courses urban or agricultural areas and from poorly maintained septic systems. Water quality impacts associated with excessive nutrients in a lake include Frequent blooms of undesirable algae potentially toxic giving water poor taste and odour Excessive growth of aquatic plants leading to a loss of open water Decrease in water clarity Lower levels of dissolved oxygen which may lead to fish kills and affect fish diversity Increased levels of coliform and E. coli bacteria present Possible increase in the presence of carcinogens resulting from increased organic matter reacting with disinfectants such as chlorine To find out more about the water quality of your particular lake or to play a hands-on role in water quality sampling on your lake contact the Lake Partner Program at 1-800-470-8322 or visit httpfoca.on.calake- partner-program-overview 3 Note that nutrients are only one of the variables that influence algal blooms. Blooms are also impacted by increased temperatures and water column stability. Simple Steps to Reduce Excess Nutrients Reduce or Eliminate Fertilizer Use Remember that what goes on your property goes into the lake That includes fertilizers applied near the water. Rain and irrigation carry these fertilizers into the water and encourage the rapid growth of aquatic plants and algae. For every pound of phosphorus in the water 500 pounds of aquatic vegetation are produced Maintain Your Septic System Pumping out your septic tank on a regular basis is critical to reducing nutrient flows into lakes. The frequency of your pump-outs will vary based on the size of your tank your family size and the number of appliances you use. As a general rule pumping your septic tank every 2 to 3 years is a good practice. Be Careful With Soap At the lake soaps should always be phosphate-free.Avoid antibacterial soaps. Soapy wastewater from dishwashing and bathing should be disposed of in soil at least 60 meters from the waters edge to prevent harming wildlife and creating nutrient-induced algae blooms. DorsetEnvironmentalScienceCentre