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Did you know that your automatic dishwashing detergent could contribute significant amounts of phosphorus to Oyster Pond? Phosphorus is a nutrient for plant growth and algae especially love to feed on it. It is estimated that one pound of phosphorus can grow up to 300 to 500 pounds of algae.
Although we can't say what percentage automatic dishwashing detergents contribute to Oyster Pond's phosporus budget, we can look to studies from wasterwater treatment facitilities as a comparison. Those reports show that phosphorus from automatic dishwasher detergents contribute from 15% to 35% of the total phosphorus load to the incoming waters to the treatment facilities. .. |
In the 1970s, Massachusetts passed laws to limit the amount of phosphorus in laundry and hand dishwashing soaps to no more than .5% phosphorus by weight. Since formulas for automatic dishwashing detergents at the time require phosphorus, they were allowed up to 8.7 percent phosphorus by weight. Now with advance in technology, this is no longer true. Currently, Senate Bill No. 1252 is making its way throught the Massachusett's legislature to require automatic dishwashing detergents to also meet the .5% phosphorus by weight requirement. Until this bill is passed, you can make a difference by switching to a lower phosphate detergent to one that is entirely phosphate free. Check below for the phosphate content of your detergent. |
| Dishwashing Detergents
Palmolive Gel Cascade Complete: Liquid Cascade Complete: Gel Sunlight Gel Cascade Pure Rinse Electra-Sol Gel Sunlight Powder Electra-Sol Powder |
Phosphate Content
1.6% 4.0% 4.0% 4.3% 4.4% 4.9% 5.6% 6.1% |
Dishwashing Detergents
Spot-free (Wal-Mart) Powder Stop N Shop (Lemon) Stop N Shop (Regular) Cascade Complete Powder Cascade Complete Tablets Sunlight Tablets Electra-Sol Tablets Palmolive Tablets |
Phosphate Content
7.0% 7.5% 7.5% 7.7% 8.48% 8.7% 8.7% 8.7% |
There are also several phosphate-free brands available such as : BioPac, Seventh Generation, Ecover, Life Tree, or Shaklee. I've had great results using Ecover, even with a low water usage dishwasher. You can find some of these products locally at Shaw's in the Natural Product Section, Windfall Market, or Amber Waves.
Membership SurveyThe board wants to thank all the people who responded to the recent membership questionnaire. The results are clear and support the present direction of OPET. About 98% of the people who responded agreed that we should be supporting water testing and analysis. Eighty-three per cent felt we should be facilitating scientific research. Eighty-one per cent agreed that purchase of land could make sense. About 60% thought it would make sense to employ some help. The complete survey results are available here in MS Excel file format. |
Spohr Gardens and OPET
Spohr Gardens and OPET obviously have a lot of common interests. In an effort to communicate effectively, the two boards have jointly decided that a member of OPET will join the Spohr Garden board, and a member of their board will join the OPET Trustees.
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