Water Pollution
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Household Hazardous Waste
<how does hazardous waste harm our water system> The City of Tallahassee urges all citizens to be aware of the need to properly dispose of household hazardous waste items. Household hazardous waste items include paint, automotive fluids, yard chemicals, pool chemicals, insecticides, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, etc.
Fertilizer
Improper fertilizer application has been identified by the State as a major source of impairment caused by excessive nutrients to the City of Tallahassee's surface waters. Over fertilization is also reported as a cause for increasing levels of nitrogen in the ground water within the boundaries of the City. In order to address these concerns and protect our water resources, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 08-O-72AA on January 28, 2009. The ordinance regulates the proper use of fertilizers by any fertilizer applicator within the City, requires proper training and provides for certification of commercial and institutional fertilizer applicators.
Reporting Illicit Discharges and Dumping
Please report any illicit discharge, connection, spill, or dumping of pollutants into the City's stormwater system by calling Utility Customer Service at 891.4YOU (4968).
View the Protect Water Quality, Prevent and Report Illict Discharge brochure.
Think About Personal Pollution - TAPP
The TAPP Campaign helps educate individuals on ways that small personal changes in home and yard practices can help keep local lakes, sinks and streams cleaner. The campaign is here to help you understand your impact on water quality and to encourage you to take action by adopting some slightly different approaches to things you do every day.
TAPP offers educational materials and seminars that provide information on this program to local neighborhood and civic groups. To schedule a seminar, or request information, call 891.6806 or visit the TAPP website to learn more: www.tappwater.org.
Water Quality
The City of Tallahassee is blessed with a source of drinking water that is of exceptional quality. The Floridan Aquifer, an underground geological formation, supplies us with a source of potable water for both outdoor and indoor use. More on Water Quality and Aquifer Protection.
Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program
Do you want to make your yard more beautiful? What about making yard work easier and saving money? How about if doing this would also protect Florida's water quality at the same time? The Florida Yards & Neighborhood Program (FYN) is designed to educate homeowners about better lawn and landscape management practices that will reduce the amount of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers that enter stormwater runoff or leach into our ground water.
For free information about your role in the FYN Program, please complete the Homeowner's Pre-Survey (pdf) form, print it and mail to:
FYN Program
University of Florida Leon County Extension
615 Paul Russell Road
Tallahassee, FL 32301.
Upon receipt of the completed form, you will receive a workbook and other information about how to help protect the future of Florida's groundwater.