Le gouvernement du MANITOBA part en guerre contre le phosphore

The Manitoba government will ban the use of fertilizers and other chemicals that contain phosphorus near the province's rivers and lakes, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers said Wednesday.

The province's changes are aimed at protecting water quality and reducing the amount of phosphorous in Lake Winnipeg and other bodies of water. High levels of phosphorus have been responsible for algae blooms appearing on Lake Winnipeg.

Starting in 2009, no one within strict buffer zones along waterways will be allowed to apply lawn or agricultural fertilizers.

The buffer zones will range from three to 15 metres along rivers to 15 to 30 metres along lakes. The ban will apply to everyone, including homeowners, farmers and golf course staff.

As well, the province plans to introduce regulations limiting the use of manure phosphorus, as well as regulate the use of synthetic fertilizers.

The province will also hold public consultations on the use of cosmetic fertilizers and other products that contain phosphorous. Struthers said the phosphorus ban may eventually be extended to all homeowners, even those who live far from water.

Struthers said more money will be spent on the enforcement and inspection of fertilizer use. Stiffer penalties will be on the way for those who apply fertilizer within the buffer zones, he said.

The province is also putting a temporary hold on new or expanding hog operations, Struthers said.

Struthers said the construction of any new hog barns, as well as the expansion of existing hog barns, will be banned while the province's Clean Environment Commission conducts a review of the industry.

Manitoba wages war on phosphorus with fertilizer bans
CBC News, Wednesday, November 8, 2006
N.B. - Nous avons souligné en gras les mesures annoncées.

Lire aussi le Rapport final présenté au ministre de la Conservation par le comité d'experts chargé de l'étude du phosphore au Manitoba (document PDF en français)

Voir aussi le reportage de La semaine verte : L'agonie d'un géant - Un des plus grands lacs au monde, le lac Winnipeg, est aux prises avec un sérieux problème d'algues bleues.