{"id":203,"date":"2014-12-01T09:57:40","date_gmt":"2014-12-01T17:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/?page_id=203"},"modified":"2023-07-17T16:08:30","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T23:08:30","slug":"water-quality","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/water-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"cpb-row  pad-ends gutter single\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-row-inner\"><div class=\"cpb-column  one\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-868 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Sockeye_salmon1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Sockeye salmon in a stream\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Sockeye_salmon1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Sockeye_salmon1.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Good water quality is important for our health, environment and economy. Preventing pollution is the first step. The number one cause of water pollution in Puget Sound today is from polluted rain runoff that has picked up oil and gas, fertilizers, livestock and pet waste and carried it into our waterways. You can help prevent and filter stormwater at home and on the farm.<\/p>\n<h2>Preventing Water Pollution at Home<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/a-home-gardeners-guide-to-soils-and-fertilizers-home-garden-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><strong>A Home Gardener&#8217;s Guide to Soils and Fertilizers<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>&#8211;\u00a0Detailed information on soil structure and fertility. How irrigation works in the soil. Discusses organic and synthetic fertilizers and creating and using compost.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/biochar-a-gardeners-primer-home-garden-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Biochar &#8211; A Gardener&#8217;s Primer<\/a><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>&#8211; Learn what biochar is and how it can enhance soil fertility and filter water pollutants.<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Hortsense\" href=\"http:\/\/hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu\/Home\/HortsenseHome.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hortsense<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0Website with fact sheets on all types of home gardening pest or disease problems.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Iron in Drinking Water\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uidaho.edu\/extension\/publications\/publication-detail?id=pnw0589\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Iron in Drinking Water<\/a><\/strong><em> &#8211;<\/em>\u00a0How to test and treat for iron in drinking water.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Low Impact Development and Rain Gardens\" href=\"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/low-impact-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Low Impact Development<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(LID) &#8211; Series of useful links to learn more about LID water filtering techniques that can help reduce pollution in stormwater.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/phosphorus-and-home-lawns-quick-facts-and-recommendations-home-garden-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Phosphorus and Home Lawns: Quick Facts and Recommendations<\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; How to apply lawn fertilizers to avoid causing water pollution.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Rain Garden Manual\" href=\"https:\/\/fortress.wa.gov\/ecy\/publications\/publications\/1310027.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; Guide for the design, installation and maintenance of rain gardens. 96 pages (19 MB).<span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>On the Farm and Ranch<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/fertilizing-with-manure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Fertilizing with Manure<\/strong> &#8211;<\/a> A\u00a0publication for the small to mid-sized crop producer\u00a0to assist in more efficiently managing nutrients\u00a0from manures. Focus is on crop growth but addresses water quality contamination concerns.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/field-flooding-for-controlling-soilborne-plant-pathogens-in-western-washington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><strong>Field Flooding for Controlling Soilborne Plant Pathogens in Western Washington<\/strong><\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; The Nature Conservancy of Washington\u2019s Farming for Wildlife project, in cooperation with WSU, has been testing a novel concept of creating habitat for shorebirds on potato fields by employing field flooding.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/high-residue-farming-under-irrigation-what-and-why-1-in-a-series-of-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>High Residue Farming Under Irrigation: What and Why<\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; Explains\u00a0cropping systems in which less tillage is used in order to keep crop residue on the surface of a field which provides benefits to soils and crops and conserves water.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/livestock-management-and-water-quality\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Livestock Management and Water Quality<\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; Bulletin on how to address water quality problems for the safety of livestock and the environment.<br \/>\n<strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-988 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Tillage11-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Stubble Tillage\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Tillage11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2105\/2015\/01\/Tillage11-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Pasture Mgt\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/pasture-and-grazing-management-in-the-northwest\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; 208 page book (5 MB)covering all aspects of pasture management [not specific to water quality]. Also may\u00a0<a title=\"order Pasture mgt book\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.wsu.edu\/ListItems.aspx?Keyword=pnw614\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">order for $18<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2015\/06\/self-assess-test1.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Water Quality Self Assessment Guide for Small Acreages<\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; Checklist for assessing water in your home and farm.<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/soil-testing-a-guide-for-farms-with-diverse-vegetable-crops\"><strong>Soil Testing: A Guide for Farms with Diverse Vegetable Crops<\/strong> <\/a>&#8211; Presents a comprehensive and affordable procedure for implementing an annual soil-testing program for farms with diverse vegetable crops. (5MB)<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.extension.wsu.edu\/using-biodegradable-plastics-as-agricultural-mulches\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Using Biodegradable Plastics as Agricultural Mulches\u00a0&#8211;<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Fact sheet discussing the\u00a0current research on the suitability of biodegradable\u00a0plastic mulches for agricultural uses.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"IPM\" href=\"http:\/\/pep.wsu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WSU Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety<\/a> <\/strong>&#8211; Workshops, training and recertification website.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>To Report an Oil Spill<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>First call the National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802<\/li>\n<li>Then contact the Washington State Emergency Management Division: 1-800-258-5990<\/li>\n<li>If the spill is in the Pacific States or British Columbia also call: 1-800-OILS-911 (1-800-645-7911)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Where to get more information<\/h2>\n<p>Many agencies and organizations work on water quality issues. See our <strong><a title=\"Links and Partners\" href=\"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/links-and-partners\/\">Links and Partners<\/a><\/strong> page for more.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cpb-column  two\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good water quality is important for our health, environment and economy. Preventing pollution is the first step. The number one cause of water pollution in Puget Sound today is from polluted rain runoff that has&amp;hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/203"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2662,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/203\/revisions\/2662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=203"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}