A single grass blade can’t do much, but an army of them can do a lot!
A grass blade army can catch pollution before it gets into the water. Like any good army, they capture the enemy (pollution) and prevent it from doing its dirty work. Here’s how…
Water flowing from pavement and roofs carries pollution with it. To capture the pollution, some cities plant grass “buffer strips” along the edge of shopping centers or other built-up areas. These strips of grass are often 50 to 100 feet or more wide.
The grass in a buffer strip slows down runoff water and gives it time to “infiltrate,” or move down into the soil. The grass also traps some of the pollution before it gets into our water. It’s the last line of defense to keep pollution out of nearby water.
Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s OK to get rid of pollutants by dumping them on your lawn. First of all, the grass used in buffer strips usually has deeper roots and taller blades than most lawn grasses. Secondly, even though grass can stop some pollutants, it can’t catch everything.
Lush grass on either side of a stream helps keep pollutants out of the water. This is called a “buffer strip.”
Photo: USDA NRCS
In this photo, you can see a grassy “buffer strip” on both sides of a stream moving through farmland. The grass catches pollution before it gets in the water.
Photo: USDA NRCS