Friday, November 9, 2001
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Friday, November 9, 2001 |
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Lawn care chemcials found in PTC water supply, though not at dangerous levels By JOHN
MUNFORD
An ongoing study of lawn care practices and their effects on Peachtree City's streams has revealed no dangerous concentrations of chemicals in local waters, although their presence has been confirmed in relatively small amounts. But pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are making their way into the water supply, including Lake Peachtree, explained Kevin Armbrust, principal investigator of the study and a Peachtree City resident himself. This typically occurs through water runoff from lawns, which helps the chemicals get into the stormwater drainage system, Armbrust said. Stormwater largely remains untreated, leaving those chemicals to enter the water supply, Armbrust added. The study, which includes chemical tests on streams, also will observe the affects of lawn care chemicals on biological life in the streams, particularly mussels and other organisms. It's not just the chemicals themselves which could cause problems, but the chemicals they break down into when exposed to sunlight, Armbrust said. A social science angle of the study involves local homeowners themselves who will be asked questions about their lawn care practices and a year-long log those homeowners will keep relating to how chemicals are applied to the lawn. The study will also seek answers on what motivates residents to take care of their lawns. "Most people tend to over-irrigate their lawns," Armbrust said. That can send the chemical runoff down the gutter, into the storm drain, and yes, eventually into bodies of water like Lake Peachtree, he said. Also, residents can apply far more chemicals than actually needed to get the job done, Armbrust said. The study is also finding that a number of chemicals are present in the sediment of local stream beds, such as chemicals used years ago to treat new houses for termite control, Armbrust said. Another chemical found in local waters likely serves as a pesticide and also a The sample locations include four creeks and streams and the intake location for the Fayette County Water System from Lake Peachtree, Armbrust said. The project was funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, and the city's developmental services department is assisting in the work, Armbrust said. Peachtree City Councilwoman Carol Fritz was instrumental in setting up that connection, and local environmentalist Dennis Chase has also provided his assistance to the study, particularly by helping Armbrust identify points from which to take samples. The Fayette County office of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service will also play a big role in helping promote solid lawn care practices as a result of the study, Armbrust said. Armbrust said the equipment which takes water samples from streams has seen some vandalism and at one sample location, progress has been slow because the sampling unit had to be repaired. The study will also investigate the affect of large rainstorm events on getting the chemicals into the water supply, Armbrust said.
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