To residents of Indian River County, the City of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Orchid, a reminder that the fertilizer ordinance will soon be effect.   We are coming into our rainy season when more nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous (as well as herbicides, pet waste, etc,) are likely to be washed from our lawns, driveways and roads into the storm water system and, ultimately, into our already impaired Indian Rivert Lagoon. 

The fertilizer ordinances passed by our communities goes into effect June1^st.

Key points:

It prohibits the use of lawn fertilizer between June 1^st and September 30^th.   

No fertilizer containing Phosphorous is to be used at any time.

All fertilizers must contain at least 50% slow release Nitrogen.

Finally, no fertilizer is to be applied within 10 feet of any water body.

If you use a lawn care provider, please discuss these regulations with them and ask them not to blow grass clippings onto the road or into storm drains.  This vegetation contains the nutrients from fertilizer that only adds to the pollution of our waterways.  For details regarding the ordinance and fertilizing tips, please see the County’s website: www.ircgov.com or email Alexis Peralta, the County’s Storm water educator and fertilizer enforcement officer, at aperalta@ircgov.com.

For your health and the health of our waterways, complying with the fertilizer ordinance is more important than ever as excess nutrients encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms. These blooms are already being reported in other parts of our State.