A public education campaign is urging Manitobans to seek alternatives to phosphorus-based products to reduce the nutrient load in the province’s waterways.
“Individual actions to reduce use of lawn and garden fertilizers and cleaning products that contain phosphorus can go a long way to reducing nutrients that promote algae growth in our lakes and rivers,” said water stewardship minister Christine Melnick in a News release
news.
The campaign is a key component of the third phase of Manitoba’s Water Protection Plan.
Public consultations on how to restrict the use of products containing phosphorus will begin this fall.
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“We want to arm Manitobans with as much information as possible in preparation for consultations that will guide us on the methods we can use to restrict these products,” she said.
The minister noted the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board recommended launching a public education campaign on water quality in its report released in February.
It also recommended taking action to restrict use of cosmetic fertilizers containing phosphorus and also recommended that the province lobby the federal government to introduce restrictions on phosphorus-based cleaning products such as dishwasher detergent.
“We agree with the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board that a national approach is best on dishwasher soap and we made that case recently in Ottawa,” said the minister. “However, we will act provincially if necessary.”
