• Never discard trash, yard waste, or hazardous materials such as gasoline, paint, or motor oil, down storm drains. Please take the necessary measures to ensure the proper disposal of these substances.
• Use environmentally sensitive lawn maintenance chemicals. If you do use lawn chemicals make sure they are used correctly.
• Use native plants in your landscaping. Native plants are more tolerant of the conditions of the area and require less water and fertilizers.
• Make sure to use proper erosion controls before beginning any construction or landscape project.
• If you use a septic tank, the EPA recommends that you have it pumped and inspected every three to five years.
For a copy of the entire study, email: friendsofradnorlake@
The Radnor Lake Watershed
As the map below indicates, all the land parcels highlighted by the blue line drain into a common body of water—Radnor Lake. All of the land-parcel neighbors surrounding Radnor Lake have the potential to impact the water quality of Radnor Lake. For example, storm water runoff picks up pollutants such as motor oil, lawn chemicals, pet waste and sedimentation before flowing into Radnor Lake.
The cumulative effect of these pollutants can have a negative impact on the water quality. As more of the land surrounding Radnor Lake is developed, the amount of impervious surfaces grows, such as asphalt and concrete, which keeps rain from seeping into the soil and recharging groundwater supplies. Impervious surfaces also increase the speed and amount of storm water runoff. In addition, alteration of the soil and removal of vegetation results in the flow of sediment into the lake. This picture shows water draining into Radnor Lake along the Lake Trail from the subdivision north of the natural area.
What Did the Study Tell Us?
The study gathered some baseline data of the chemical characteristics of the lake to support our efforts to water quality trends in the parameters we tested. Overall, the health of the ecosystem appears to be in relatively good shape; however, there are a few areas of concern, which include relatively high levels of nitrates and phosphates at some testing points.Unhealthy nitrate levels in water can stem from the inputs of fertilizers or petroleum products into the groundwater or water body. Human contributions of phosphates include sewage inputs and soil erosion.
The cumulative effect of these pollutants can have a negative impact on the water quality. As more of the land surrounding Radnor Lake is developed, the amount of impervious surfaces grows, such as asphalt and concrete, which keeps rain from seeping into the soil and recharging groundwater supplies. Impervious surfaces also increase the speed and amount of storm water runoff. In addition, alteration of the soil and removal of vegetation results in the flow of sediment into the lake. This picture shows water draining into Radnor Lake along the Lake Trail from the subdivision north of the natural area.
