Are we polluting the environment when we dump chemical fertz?

So I've been seeing a lot of stories on the news recently about cannabis. I'm actually pretty suprised that even conservatives are starting to come around(or so it seams). However, the one really negative story I keep hearing about is how bad things have gotten in california in regaurds to the damage done by dumping all those chemical fertz either down the drain or right into the environment, mostly by big shady productions trying to pump out as much as possible, without proper license, etc. etc. You get the idea, basically people doing it to distribute to other states and profit as much as possible before the bubble bursts.

I know a small time grower isn't going to make a huge difference, but I'm curious how bad this stuff is for the environment? Anyone with any actual knowledge to share, please do.

I'm not super well versed on the subject, but my guess is that most of that stuff is more or less propiganda by people either;
A: Pushing organic growing, which personally, I think is total nonsense. Fuck organic. But everyone has their own ways, and i'm not going to tell them it's WRONG.
B: People trying to discourage growing in general
C: People who dislike cannabis and want to see it stay illegal. "

There is undoubtedly a small environmental impact from chemical fertilizers going down drains. But presumably, the majority is going into the roots of a life form, and not just strait down the drain. But I would suspect that it's no more then what's cause by people who flush pills down the toilet, people who dispose of CFL's in the normal trash can (not proud to say that I do that), and those who use muriatic acid to clean their driveways, then wash it down the storm drains.
It is what it is.
My advice, don't believe all the hype, but do some in depth research (outside of just asking what others know about it) if you're really concerned about the environmental impact of it.

Yes we are by dumping those nutes down the toilet.

Fertilizers, whether they are artificial or organic, can cause serious problems if they contaminate freshwater and marine ecosystems.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fertilizers-pollutants-78452.html

Nutes and Nugs said:

Yes we are by dumping those nutes down the toilet.

Fertilizers, whether they are artificial or organic, can cause serious problems if they contaminate freshwater and marine ecosystems.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fertilizers-pollutants-78452.html

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my question is though, who the hell dumps nutes down the shitter?? if i have any old crap laying around, i'll dump them out in the garden, or the compost pile. i don't grow hydro, but if i did, i'd be doing the same thing with my old res water, sure as shit not be dumping it down the shitter..

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to racerboy71 again.


Still??? Damn...
Agreed 100%

Ever seen an algal source growing in freshwater? especially in suburban ditches ponds or near agricultural run-off? Chances are there is a phosphorous leach somewhere.

The USDA about ten years ago declared the top soil [top 6"] virtually dead in the US. Think Monsanto, Scotts had a hand in that? Isn't it crazy that we buy hordes of RoundUp, fully aware of the devestation that it the chemical and the company have caused? Now that is marketing on a phenomenal scale.

Imho, gardening should be, how it has be practiced thousands of years before the advent of synthetic chemicals. Label it whatever you want, just simple gardening re-using your materials and using naturally produced ferts from plants and animals. It takes a little more work to be sure and a little understanding of soil science and chemistry, but nothing overcome-able by any means.

It can even be done indoors too.

Of course I may be biased, my experiences come from growing with synthetic ferts and having a Crohn's patient. An interesting experiment commenced due to a compromised immune system and I haven't looked back.

racerboy71 said:

my question is though, who the hell dumps nutes down the shitter?? if i have any old crap laying around, i'll dump them out in the garden, or the compost pile. i don't grow hydro, but if i did, i'd be doing the same thing with my old res water, sure as shit not be dumping it down the shitter..

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I was thinking about hydro growers too.
Where else are they going to go with it?
It passes into the sewer system, dumped into the sewer system or fields then runoff into creeks and lakes.
Makes that nasty green algae that kills off aquatic life.

Mostly from farm ferts in my area.

Abiqua said:

Ever seen an algal source growing in freshwater? especially in suburban ditches ponds or near agricultural run-off? Chances are there is a phosphorous leach somewhere.

The USDA about ten years ago declared the top soil [top 6"] virtually dead in the US. Think Monsanto, Scotts had a hand in that? Isn't it crazy that we buy hordes of RoundUp, fully aware of the devestation that it the chemical and the company have caused? Now that is marketing on a phenomenal scale.

Imho, gardening should be, how it has be practiced thousands of years before the advent of synthetic chemicals. Label it whatever you want, just simple gardening re-using your materials and using naturally produced ferts from plants and animals. It takes a little more work to be sure and a little understanding of soil science and chemistry, but nothing overcome-able by any means.

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Exactly!
There are too many man made nutes getting into the ecosystem.

It's all about the frogs mon.

[video=youtube;b3V04D3C4Lg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3V04D3C4Lg[/video]

Nutes and Nugs said:

Exactly!
There are too many man made nutes getting into the ecosystem.

It's all about the frogs mon.

[video=youtube;b3V04D3C4Lg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3V04D3C4Lg[/video]

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See, but even on that level, that I would suspect is from large scale commercial farms, and even then it's harmfulness is from such a large concentration of it. I would think that the small scale grower need not worry about it, nor the average citizen in their drinking water.
Although it is a good reminder that none of us should pour our nutes in sinks, bathtubs, or toilets to dispose of it, it should always be used in gardens, yards, other (less important or discerning) plants, or worst case, i'm positive most places have chemical disposal sites, just strip the labels if you're concerned about showing up with a bunch of empty nute bottles.

Nutes and Nugs said:

I was thinking about hydro growers too.
Where else are they going to go with it?

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My used hydro nutrients go to my vegetable and ornamental plants in pots...

Back to the topic though, most run-off problems come from lawn care and agriculture. My area (near a huge wildlife refuge/lagoon area) just recently enacted a lot of laws for property owners near bodies of water due to the environmental damage mainly caused from fertilizing lawns.

I can't add much,I do remember a thread about us hydro people pouring the old nutes down the drain & roots clogging the lines up.
Makes my yard look good but don't need clogged lines. I don't remember the answer to the problem. Have a good day!

I do love me my floor drains. Lol. Copper sulfate is used to keep roots out of old clay tile pipe. Hit them every spring.

Glad I don't have that problem anymore, new house has pvc.

Haha, I have a floor drain as well and that's where all my run off goes. I was just curious what other people's thoughts were. And the news report I saw actually didn't seam like propoganda. In fact they were arguing that it should be legal to prevent these larger operations that are just in it for profit and run illegaly. This one operation had 2, half million dollar generators running the ship. They practically destroyed the property with their run off and it was even effecting a near by creek.

I know that agricultural run off causes algea blooms and destroys ponds, creeks, ecosystems, etc. I was really curious what everyone did with their run-off/old res. water. I only grow in 2 4x4 tents, It's not like I generate that much of it.

I guess another question would be is dumping it in my vegtable garden or in the back or my property any better then dumping it down my drain?

Squidbilly said:

Haha, I have a floor drain as well and that's where all my run off goes. I was just curious what other people's thoughts were. And the news report I saw actually didn't seam like propoganda. In fact they were arguing that it should be legal to prevent these larger operations that are just in it for profit and run illegaly. This one operation had 2, half million dollar generators running the ship. They practically destroyed the property with their run off and it was even effecting a near by creek.

I know that agricultural run off causes algea blooms and destroys ponds, creeks, ecosystems, etc. I was really curious what everyone did with their run-off/old res. water. I only grow in 2 4x4 tents, It's not like I generate that much of it.

I guess another question would be is dumping it in my vegtable garden or in the back or my property any better then dumping it down my drain?

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Dump it a sand filter with indigenous microlife. Or research up on places like Arcata, Ca., Chicago, IL. or Cannon Beach, Or. These towns use wetlands as their sewer treatment facilities and provide excellent examples on how they use wetland processes to improve water chemistry.