In Sarasota County, water bodies are experiencing nutrient pollution, caused by fertilizer and other nitrogen sources. Sarasota County Government is working through civic, government, and industry stakeholder groups to develop solutions that will return our bays to a healthier state by addressing water bodies that have been polluted by fertilizer runoff.

Fertilizer isn’t a problem when it’s used carefully. If we use too much fertilizer or apply it at the wrong time, it can easily wash into storm drains and flow untreated into bays or streams. Just like in our gardens, fertilizer in bays and streams makes plants grow. In water bodies, that extra fertilizer can mean extra algae and aquatic plant growth. Too much algae harms water quality and makes boating, fishing and swimming unpleasant. As algae decay, they use up oxygen in the water that fish and other wildlife need to grow and thrive.

More than 60 percent of water pollution comes from things like cars leaking oil, fertilizers from farms and gardens, and failing septic tanks. All these sources add up to a big pollution problem. But each of us can do small things to help clean up our water — and that adds up to a pollution solution!

Won’t you join this effort? Be a part of the pollution solution!

Watch the PSA Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code Fertilizer Civil Penalties Fertilizer and Landscape Management brochure   Living on the Water's Edge brochure  Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook

One of the specific civic stakeholder group recommendations was to create a “nutrient pledge” for every citizen to embrace as part of the overall strategy to continually improve the environmental condition in Sarasota County.

Nutrient Pledge
We, the citizens of Sarasota County, believe that water is one of our most valuable natural resources. We should minimize our contribution to the pollution of our water by following the highest possible environmentally safe standards with regard to the use of fertilizers, pesticides and other potentially polluting sources.

We understand that the quality of our waterways is impacted by the selection of plant materials as well as the type, amount and timing of fertilizer application.

Our goal should be to continually reduce the pollution of our waterways so that we give the next generation higher quality water than we inherited.

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