Effects of Urban Fertilizer Ordinances on Water Quality

Alexander J. Reisinger, Michael D. Dukes, Basil V. Iannone III, J. Bryan Unruh, and Samuel J. Smidt

Release Date: 1/17/2024

Reviewed At: 11/14/2024

DOI: 10.32473/edis-ss724-2024

Water Resources

Abstract

Originating from environmental or humans sources, too much nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) in water bodies can degrade water quality. In an attempt to reduce the contribution of human sources of N and P to local waters, urban fertilizer ordinances have been adopted in at least 35 counties in Florida and 97 additional Florida municipalities. Despite this work, the efficacy of fertilizer ordinances are debated by end users. The purpose of this publication is to summarize a peer-reviewed, scientific article that investigated impacts of fertilizer on long-term water quality trends in Florida lakes (Smidt et al. 2022) and is intended to be used by UF/IFAS Extension faculty and/or regulatory officials considering adopting or modifying an urban fertilizer ordinance. We encourage green industry professionals and concerned community members to share the effectiveness of fertilizer ordinances.

About this Publication

This document is SL511, one of a series of the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. © 2024 UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

About the Authors

Alexander J. Reisinger, assistant professor and state Extension specialist, Ph.D., Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences; Michael D. Dukes, director and professor, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Basil V. Iannone III, assistant professor, Ph.D., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences; J. Bryan Unruh, professor and associate center director, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center; and Samuel J. Smidt, assistant professor, Ph.D., Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

How to Cite

Reisinger, A. J., Dukes, M., Iannone III, B. V., Unruh, J. B., & Smidt, S. J. (2024). Effects of Urban Fertilizer Ordinances on Water Quality. EDIS, 2024(1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ss724-2024

Authors

Alexander Reisinger

Specialist

University of Florida

associate professor of urban soil and water quality, Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, and state Extension specialist, Center for Land Use Efficiency, Program for Resource Efficient Communities

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Michael Dukes

Specialist

University of Florida

director, UF/IFAS Nutrient Management Program, associate dean for special initiatives, UF/IFAS Extension, professor, UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and director, Center for Land Use Efficiency, Gainesville, FL

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Basil Iannone III

Contact

Specialist

University of Florida

associate professor and state Extension specialist, residential landscape ecology, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL

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J. Bryan Unruh

Specialist

University of Florida

professor and associate center director, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, FL

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Sam Smidt

Specialist

University of Florida

assistant ptofessor, watershed science, UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, Gainesville, FL

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Publication #SL511