Threats to Water Quality Water quality has improved significantly in recent decades, primarily due to the adoption of conservation practices by farmers. Water quality problems can emerge where agricultural activities or residential, commercial and industrial developments are not planned, constructed and operated carefully. Many of the problems are associated with sediment and include soil erosion and siltation of streams, increased runoff from fields and associated stream bank damage, and destruction of stream banks by clearing and intensive grazing. Other problems can be caused by runoff water from lawns, fields, and small feedlots that may be contaminated with fertilizers, pesticides and bacteria. Many residents and farmers have worked to reduce these impacts but others have yet to appreciate the important contribution they could make.
Residential developments place a serious burden on water quality.
There are about 900 on-site sewage systems serving homes in the watersheds. It is estimated that up to one third of these may not be properly maintained and currently contaminate local streams with bacteria, nitrates and phosphates. Many home owners use herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers at application rates higher than those used by farmers. Releases from large sewage lagoons and runoff from extensive lawn areas in subdivisions magnify the problems. Future residential, commercial and industrial developments pose even greater threats to water quality.