Wastewater treatment facilities are an indispensable part of any community. However, one major source of nutrient pollution has been from the discharge of effluent from local wastewater treatment facilities. They may need to be upgraded to reduce the nutrient contents of their effluent. The project has set aside in its budget money to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities around the lake to reduce their effluent discharges.
Another source of nutrient pollution is from fertilizer. The project will encourage everyone around the lake to reduce or eliminate unnecessary fertilizer use. The islands will be designed so they are able to filter water prior to it reentering the lake using a wide range of best management practices, including bioswales, bioretention basins, and biofilters. Fertilizer use will be managed on the islands to prevent any issues from stormwater. Wastewater from community islands will be treated to eliminate nutrients before the effluent enters the lake.
Some nutrient inflows are unavoidable in any waterway, but a vibrant and healthy ecosystem can naturally manage more reasonable levels if the existing nutrient pollution in the lakebed is significantly reduced.