Runoff is the water that enters the lake after flowing over the ground surface, where it accumulates contaminants such as fertilizers, pet waste and pesticides. Development leads to an increase in runoff with excess nutrients (pollutants). This runoff contributes to nutrient loading, which fuels algae blooms, harms water quality, and can be detrimental to the organisms living in the lake.

During this week, the PLWA highlights and creates initiatives to promote clean runoff to promote clean runoff, which is important to maintaining and improving water quality and health in our lakes, rivers, and streams.

For more information about clean runoff, click here to access the Alberta Clean Runoff Action Guide.