Many small sources
of nutrients in Manitoba
• In Manitoba, nutrients are contributed from many relatively small sources.
• No single source of nutrients can be considered a large contributor.
• Nutrients are produced by virtually all of our activities including:
- human wastewater and detergents
- industry
- agriculture
- cosmetic fertilizers
- erosion
- wind and rain inputs directly to water
- natural sources
- other jurisdictions
• When combined, all nutrient sources become significant.
• All sources are being asked to reduce nutrient contributions.
• In Lake Winnipeg, nutrient contributions have been grouped into six main sources.
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Wind and rain inputs
directly to Lake Winnipeg
6%
10%
Agriculture
5%
15%
Natural Background
Human wastewater
and industry
Upstream Jurisdictions
Nitrogen Fixation
51%
19%
53%
17%
5%
10%
9%
Why be concerned about nutrients?
What is a nutrient?
Phosphorus and nitrogen are nutrients - substances necessary for plant growth.
Nutrient enrichment
is one of Manitoba’s largest water quality challenges.
Nuisance algae blooms
are caused by too much phosphorus and nitrogen.
Algae blooms can affect:
- the safety of water for drinking and recreation
- the safety of water for livestock, wildlife and pets
- commercial and sport fisheries
- drinking water treatment costs
- recreation and tourism industries
- aquatic habitat and biodiversity
- the aesthetic appeal of lakes and rivers
Increasing concentrations
of nitrogen and phosphorus have been observed across southern Manitoba
over the past 30 years.
Phosphorus has increased:
- 10 per cent in Lake Winnipeg
- Almost 200 per cent in the La Salle River
- More than 50 per cent in the Souris River
Nitrogen has increased:
- 13 per cent in Lake Winnipeg
- About 145 per cent in the La Salle River
- More than 114 per cent in the Marsh River
Fertilizers Applied for
Cosmetic Purposes
Fertilizers typically contain…
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
The three numbers on a fertilizer bag indicate
the relative amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium - in that order.
When the middle number on the fertilizer bag is zero,
the fertilizer does not contain phosphorus.
How do nutrients in fertilizers applied for
cosmetic purposes get into waterways?
Most Manitoba soil has an abundant supply of
natural phosphorus. Fertilizers are often applied
without a soil test that would indicate if phosphorus
is needed.
• More fertilizer is applied than required.
• Fertilizer is inadvertently applied to sidewalks
and driveways.
• Rain and runoff from melting snow washes excess
nutrients into waterways through ditches and
storm drains.
• Fertilizers applied along lake and river front
properties can wash directly into the water.
What are other jurisdictions doing?
Several U.S. state and local governments have passed
legislation regulating the sale and use of lawn fertilizer.
Regulations include:
• Fertilizer cannot be applied when the ground is frozen.
• Fertilizer cannot be applied to parking lots,
roadways and sidewalks.
• Restricting or limiting application of phosphorus to
specific conditions.
• Limiting use of nitrogen or allowing only the use of
slow release formulas.
In Minnesota, part of the Lake Winnipeg watershed,
fertilizers containing phosphorus can only be used
on lawns if a soil test indicates that it is needed or on
newly established lawns.
How does Manitoba propose to reduce the
use of cosmetic fertilizers?
Under the Nutrient
Management Regulation:
• The application of fertilizer will be prohibited within
buffer zones along rivers and lakes as of 2009.
• Golf courses and driving ranges will be required to
submit a nutrient management plan.
Manitoba is also proposing that:
• Fertilizers containing phosphorus could be applied
only to new residential lawns.
• Manitoba will work closely with the local retail sector
to ensure phosphorus-free fertilizers are available.
How do nutrients from household cleaning
products get into waterways?
• Cleaning products often contain large amounts
of phosphorus.
• Phosphorus in cleaning products ends up in
wastewater treatment plants and septic systems.
• There may be little or no treatment to remove
phosphorus before its release to rivers and lakes.
• Dishwashing detergents contribute an estimated
one per cent of the phosphorus load to Lake Winnipeg.
Phosphorus in Cleaning Products
- Did you know?
• Only the phosphorus content of laundry detergents
has been restricted through federal legislation.
• There are no provincial or federal regulations
controlling phosphorus in dishwashing detergents.
• Manitoba Water Stewardship recently tested the
phosphorus content in 25 varieties of automatic
dishwashing detergents that are readily available
in Manitoba.
• Phosphorus content varied from 0.01 to more than
10 per cent.
What is underway in other jurisdictions?
• Legislation to reduce phosphorus in dishwashing
detergent has been introduced in several U.S. states.
• In Washington and Maryland, dishwashing
detergents containing more than 0.5 per cent
phosphorus by weight will be prohibited by 2010.
How does Manitoba propose to reduce
nutrients in household cleaning products?
• Work closely with the federal government and
other provinces and territories to develop a
national approach restricting phosphorus content in
household cleaning products.
• A nation-wide market for phosphorus-reduced
detergent will minimize costs to consumers.
• Approximately 70 per cent of Manitoba’s surface
water originates in upstream jurisdictions, so a
consistent national approach would be most effective.
• If a consistent national approach is not developed,
Manitoba proposes to develop its own regulatory
approach.
What you can do
Choose to be Phosphate Free
• When purchasing laundry, dishwashing and other cleaning products,
look for “phosphate free” on the label. If the label does not say the
product is phosphate-free, it probably does contain phosphates.
• Check the labels on household and personal cleaning products and
avoid those containing phosphorus.
• Ask your retailer for phosphate-free or low-phosphate products.
These products are becoming more widely available and increased
consumer demand will encourage local retailers to carry them.
• Consider simpler, safer methods when doing household
cleaning chores.
• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can clean and polish aluminum,
chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin. It
also softens fabrics and removes certain stains.
• Isopropyl alcohol is an excellent disinfectant for a variety of needs.
• Lemon juice can be used to clean glass and remove stains from
aluminum, porcelain and clothing.
• Soap (not detergent) is an effective cleaner for natural fabrics such
as cotton, silk or wool.
• Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits and grease; remove soap
scum, mildew or wax buildup; clean brick or stone and shine
windows without streaking.
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate or soda ash) can cut stubborn
grease on grills, broiler pans and ovens.
What you can do
Choose to Know How to Grow
• Don’t use fertilizers within 30 metres of a shoreline.
• Reduce or eliminate the use of fertilizer containing phosphorus on
lawns. Most soils in Manitoba are already rich in phosphorus and
additional phosphorus is not required to maintain a healthy lawn.
• Check the three numbers listed on fertilizer products. These
numbers indicate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium, in that sequence. Look for “0” in the middle number,
indicating that it is phosphorus free fertilizer.
• Use mulched clippings on your flower and vegetable gardens. They
boost soil fertility while providing moisture and shade.
• Start composting and apply the rich results to your flower or
vegetable gardens.
• Consider alternatives to intensive lawn care such as natural habitat
projects. Gardening with native plants will reduce the need for
fertilizers and water.
Other Initiatives Underway
to Reduce Nutrients
• Announced the Lake Winnipeg Action Plan, a commitment to reduce
phosphorus and nitrogen to Lake Winnipeg by about 10 to 13 per cent.
• Established the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board. The Board released its
second report in February 2006 and asks all Manitobans, and our neighbours
to work together and take action in the spirit of collective responsibility.
• Issued new Environment Act licences for the City of Winnipeg’s wastewater
treatment plants requiring full nutrient controls by 2014.
• Required new and expanding wastewater treatment facilities such as those
serving the food-processing sector to reduce nutrients.
• Amended The Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation to
include phosphorus.
• Proposed the Nutrient Management Regulation to protect water quality by
encouraging responsible nutrient planning, regulating the application of
materials containing nutrients and restricting the development of certain
types of facilities in environmentally sensitive areas.
• Reached an agreement through the International Joint Commission’s
International Red River Board that all jurisdictions in the Red River basin will
reduce nutrients to Lake Winnipeg by 10 per cent within five years.
• Requested the Clean Environment Commission to undertake an investigation
of the environmental sustainability of the pig sector in Manitoba and placed a
pause on new or expanded intensive pig operations until the investigation is
completed.
• Modernized the Planning Act to include mandatory municipal land-use
planning and the requirement for municipal development plans to include
a livestock operations policy that sets out where livestock operations will be
considered and where they will be prohibited.