Background:

Water contaminants or pollutants that impact the quality and/or use of water are generally subdivided into five major categories. One of these major categories is chemicals, which includes inorganic (non-carbon containing) and organic (carbon-based) chemicals. Nutrients are inorganic mineral elements that are absolutely essential for both plant and animal nutrition. Pesticides are either organic or inorganic chemicals, which are used to control weeds, insects and other pests. There is a growing concern for water quality problems associated with both nutrients and pesticides. The nutrients of primary water quality concern are nitrogen and phosphorus. Numerous pesticides are a potential threat to water quality.

Most people think of nutrients as the chemical fertilizers used in agriculture and of pesticides as those chemicals used specifically to control agricultural pests. Agriculture is the primary user of these products, but there are other uses for both groups of chemicals. We use fertilizers and pesticides on our lawns and gardens, on our playing fields, on rights of way, and even in our water supplies. We also use pesticides in our homes, on our pets and even on our own bodies for disease and health protection. Nitrogen and phosphorus are components of plant and animal waste products and both are now used in numerous industrial products and processes, some of which result in their release into the environment.

Without human influence, nitrogen and phosphorus are cycled regularly throughout our environment. The atmosphere we breathe is 78 percent nitrogen. Many of our newer pesticides are similar to naturally occurring chemicals which plants produce to ward off diseases or insect attack. However, humans have significantly impacted what were once natural nutrient cycles for nitrogen and phosphorus, so that more of each are finding their way into both surface and ground water sources. And, we have developed many synthetic pesticide chemicals, which unlike natural chemicals, do not readily degrade to harmless, nontoxic products within a short period of time. Thus, more of these products are finding their way into water sources as well.

Nutrient and Pesticide Management in Your Watershed:

Contaminated runoff from agricultural and urban areas where fertilizers and pesticides are applied and nutrients from human and animal wastes, are the primary sources for nutrient enrichment and pesticide contamination of both surface and ground water supplies. Progress has been made in cleaning up nutrients from point source discharges, but land application of plant, human or animal waste products can lead to nutrient enrichment from these sources. Since land use is the primary indicator of potential nutrient and pesticide contamination, and regular stream monitoring is the best method to monitor and assess impacts as well as restoration efforts-nutrient and pesticide management programs can best be implemented and monitored for success on a watershed basis.

To determine if nutrient and pesticide management is adequate in your watershed, you must first make some sort of assessment as to the type, volume and distribution of these products within the boundary of your watershed. You must then determine if these products are being properly managed and utilized at appropriate rates and under satisfactory conditions to reduce both point source and storm water discharges of excessive levels into the water supplies within your watershed.

A basic knowledge of the recommended best management practices (BMPs) for reducing nutrient and pesticide contamination of surface and ground water supplies will help you make your assessment and implement watershed-based pollution prevention programs. See below for where to find information about BMPs.

Resources and Programs:
A multitude of resources and programs are now available on proper management and use of nutrients and pesticides to prevent water pollution.

Publications:
Web Links:
FAQs:

Auburn University Nutrient and Pesticide Management Team:
Dr. Lawrence "Fudd" Graham
Dr. Charles Mitchell

The EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds has best management practice documents and information on nonpoint source categories including agriculture, forestry, marinas, and urban.

Agriculture Pollution Prevention techniques can be found at EPA Software for Environmental Awareness.

National Stormwater Best Management Practice Database

Extension Outreach

Auburn University is the home of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), which develops and delivers programs designed to provide science-based outreach education into all counties of the state. ACES has the capacity to interpret the applicability of research, which has been developed at colleges, universities, or from other sources, and use it in education, training and demonstration programs to solve or prevent local problems related to nutrient and pesticide management. Target audiences may range from homeowners and agricultural producers to business owners and managers to policy makers.

Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer Program
Pesticide Impact Assessment
Alabama Pesticide Information
Integrated Pest Management Alabama

Research

A primary mission of scientific research at Alabama's Land Grant Universities is to develop new and better ways of providing the agricultural needs of Alabama's citizens, while protecting our natural resources for long-term sustainability.

Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
Auburn University Department of Agronomy and Soils
Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Auburn University Department of Horticulture
Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

College and University Education

Courses offered at Auburn University related to Waste and Wastewater Management may be found in the following departments:

Auburn University Department of Agronomy and Soils
Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Auburn University Department of Horticulture
Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences