Green Our Planet, Not Our Bay!
By Irene Wilson

When you go swimming have you noticed a greenish tinge in the water? Are the rocks getting slipperier?

Increased phosphate and nitrogen levels have been acting as fertilizer for algae growth in Georgian Bay. Some sources of these nutrients are phosphate based cleaning products (especially dishwasher detergents) and the runoff from garden fertilizers. Phosphates increase cleaning performance, hold dirt, soften water, and reduce spotting and rusting. Dishwasher detergents still can contain up to 18% phosphates by weight even though their use in laundry detergents was reduced several years ago.

Blue-green algae thrive in areas where the water is shallow and warm or just below the surface in deeper, cooler water. Their scientific name is cyanobacteria, but they are more commonly known as pond scum. Normally, blue-green algae are barely visible, but during warm weather, populations can increase rapidly to form a large mass called a bloom. Blooms most commonly occur during the late summer and early fall.

Dense blue-green algae blooms may make the water look like pea soup and when fresh can smell like newly mown grass. Older blooms smell like rotting garbage. Although many forms of blue-green algae are relatively harmless, some forms produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Symptoms from contact with these toxins can include itchy, irritated eyes and skin from swimming and if swallowed, headaches, fever, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

A key factor in their growth rate is the level of available nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. These are also two of the three ingredients in lawn fertilizers. The third is potassium, also known as potash. Those are the three numbers found on bags of lawn food.

Through run-off, fertilizer finds it way into Georgian Bay. Unfortunately, green may be a healthy colour for a lawn, but it’s not a sign of vitality for our bay.

The Canadian Government is proposing to amend legislation to reduce further the amount of phosphates that can be contained in laundry detergent and for the first time limit the amount found in dishwasher detergents and general purpose cleaners to 0.05% by weight. The proposed legislation will take effect July 1, 2010. Under the new rules, phosphate concentration in laundry soap would be reduced from 2.2% by weight to 0.05%.

This legislation is still almost two years away but the time to start acting is now. Many environmentalists are frustrated because the regulations won’t apply to commercial or industrial sources of phosphates, such as cleaning equipment used in restaurants, hospitals and schools.

We, as seasonal and full-time residents of Tiny, can make an effort to reduce our contribution of phosphates to Georgian Bay. Many households enjoy the convenience of a dishwasher, which can be a valuable labour saving device when the cottage is bursting at the seams with family and guests. But we can do our part to reduce its impact on the environment of the bay by choosing products that are phosphate free for both our dishwashers and household cleaning products.

You can make some of these products yourself from simple, home recipes that are also inexpensive. Or you can shop carefully for store bought “green” cleaning products that are now becoming available, but can be more costly. The cost needs to be weighed against the long-term benefits to the quality of our water. Will our children and their children be able to continue swimming and enjoying the beaches of Georgian Bay?

Manufacturers have jumped on the “green” bandwagon and are using both the word and the colour on packaging to attract environmentally conscious consumers. Not all products that are labelled as “green” are phosphate free.

There is an organization called EcoLogo that is a Canadian government sponsored agency founded in 1988 to provide customers “with assurance that products bearing their symbol have met stringent environmental standards that have been verified by a third party auditor”. Their website is www.ecologo.org. You can view a wide range of consumer products under a variety of categories. The website also includes the criteria that are used to designate a product as being acceptable. The program is stewarded by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc. under a license agreement with Environment Canada. The EcoLogo(m) is a registered mark of Environment Canada.

What can you do about it? Firstly, purchase products that are phosphate free. Loblaws’ President’s Choice brand has come out with a new phosphate-free dishwasher detergent. I have tried it and found it worked well even with my hard water.

Read labels; look for “phosphate free”. See our list of recommended products at the end of this article. For general cleaning, reach for the bottle of vinegar or the box of baking soda. The old fashioned products that grandma used really worked. They also deodorize as they clean without leaving artificial chemical scents or residues that can be inhaled and cause irritation. They also require some elbow grease, so another benefit is burning some calories while you clean! A website that will provide you with natural cleaning alternatives is www.lesstoxicguide.ca. It lists both commercial products and home recipes.

When it comes to lawn care, look at ground covers or wildflower gardens that need little maintenance and no fertilizers. Use bark mulch as a ground cover in areas where grass is difficult to grow. This mulch can be obtained for a nominal amount from the North Simcoe Transfer Station at 1700 Golf Link Road, Midland. Just bring your own shovel and garbage bags. Some ground covers (ivy and pachysandra) are not appropriate for septic beds due to their root systems. Thick, dense vegetation of any sort on the septic bed will prevent transpiration and cut the effectiveness of your system. A website with tips for natural lawn care is www.richsoil.com/lawn-care. Think of the time and money that you will save that can be spent enjoying the beach or cottage.

If you are shampooing yourself, children or pets in the bay, remember to use environmentally friendly products. Personal hygiene products can also contain phosphates. Shampoos for killing fleas contain pesticides, which are left as residue in the water.

Ideally, government bodies such as Environment Canada, should be monitoring consumer products and restricting the use of harmful chemicals. Manufacturers often have strong lobby groups that slow down or impede this process. It can take years to implement effective legislation. We, as consumers, can react in several ways: contacting our politicians, writing or e-mailing product manufacturers, (they take input from consumers very seriously since very few people do it), financially supporting environmental watchdog groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation and educating ourselves and choosing products that are environmentally friendly. Your consumer dollar speaks loudly and manufacturers listen. The website, www.DavidSuzuki.org, provides a comprehensive, user friendly, resource that can direct your concerns in a positive way. There are a variety of links, including ones to contact the appropriate politicians to voice your opinions. Every small action that you take can make a difference!

Recommended phosphate free dishwasher detergents:
• Nature Clean All Natural Dish Washer Powder, available at Sobeys and Zehrs in Barrie.
• President’s Choice Green Phosphate-free Dishwasher Detergent, available at the Superstore, Midland, Valu-Mart, Midland and any other locations of No Frills and Loblaws.
• Seventh Generation Dishwasher Powder, available at Health & Bulk Store, King St., Midland.
• Shaklee Dish Wash Automatic Concentrate Powder, available through direct order on their website or through Shaklee distributors.
• Home made: Mix equal parts of borax and baking soda and store in a tightly sealed container. Use 2 tablespoons per load. If you have hard water, double the amount of baking soda in your mixture. For either mixture, use vinegar in the rinse cycle. Sodium hexametaphosphate can be used instead of dishwasher detergent. The amount required will vary depending on hardness of water.