Healthy Soil and Clean Water: What Every Backyard Gardener Should Know

If You Care About Healthy Soil and Clean Water, Here’s What You Need to Know to Keep Your Garden and Landscape Free of Contaminants.

Soil and water safety is an important topic for every gardener. That’s true whether you’re growing vegetables for your family or maintaining a backyard oasis of flowers. The long-term sustainability of a garden is based on understanding its building blocks: soil and water. 

For a garden to thrive, it must have healthy soil and clean water. It’s more complicated that you think. It goes way beyond “soil is dirty, and water runs clear.” And many gardeners don’t know what to look for. 

Soil and water contaminants can be sneaky critters, and this article will share what you need to know to keep your garden safe. 

Healthy Soil and Clean Water: What to Know About Soil Contaminants

Unseen pollutants in soil pose serious risks to plants as well as people. Soil may look rich and fertile, but a closer inspection is needed to be sure the ground is toxin-free. 

Soil contamination can have various sources: 

• Pesticides: Residue from chemical treatments stays behind in the soil for long periods. Even if you’ve never used pesticides in your garden, remnants from previous use by someone else could still be present in your soil. 
• Industrial run-off: Backwash from industrial activity in the area could find itself in the water table that feeds your garden. 
• Heavy metals (arsenic or lead): Usually from industrial activity or lead-based paint residue, these contaminants are mostly found in urban gardens. 
• Pathogens: Bacteria from animal waste or compost that isn’t properly cleaned can seriously affect the health of your soil. 
• Nutrient imbalance: Incorrect use of fertilizers, or using fertilizers high in harmful chemicals, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, affects plant life as well as water sources in the surrounding area. 

A good first step to understanding your soil. Be sure to test your soil regularly to identify potential problems as they arise. 

Safe Watering Practices

Healthy soil and clean water for your garden, landscape, and homestead takes ongoing vigilance. Many gardeners depend on rainwater, well water, or municipal water to irrigate their gardens, and each has their own risks. Follow these steps to ensure you’re working safely and responsibly: 

• Test well water regularly. Nitrates, bacteria, and heavy metals can seep into groundwater from contaminated soil. 
• Use rainwater carefully. While this is an eco-friendly option, rainwater is prone to pollutants picked up from gutters and rooftops. 
• Avoid treated water. Municipal water contains fluoride or chlorine, both of which can damage plant health and microbes in your soil. 
• Prevent pollution from run-off. Overwatering causes water laden with fertilizer and pesticide to wash into surrounding water sources. Even if you use chemical-free products, saving water helps the environment too. 

Being conscious of preventing pollution on your part isn’t enough, though. Gardeners especially have to be mindful of pollutants entering soil and water from elsewhere. 

Healthy Soil and Clean Water: Strategies for a Safe and Thriving Garden

To ensure your garden remains a safe and healthy space for you and your family, consider these strategies: 

• Get your soil tested. Many local agricultural offices offer affordable soil testing for contaminants. 
• Go natural wherever possible. Organic fertilizers provide plant nutrients derived from natural sources. Chemical fertilizers are synthetically manufactured. Natural fertilizers are better for the long-term health of your garden soil. Compost and manure are good choices to consider. 
• Rotate your crops. Seasonal crop rotation helps to keep your soil healthy by preventing the build-up of contaminants. 
• Use raised beds. If you’re in an area affected by sources of soil contamination, then raised plant beds are the safest alternative. Use clean, organic soil and avoid chemical fertilizers.  
• Get a water filtration system. Filtering your water—whether well, rain, or municipal—should be standard practice. It’s an extra layer of assurance that the water you use isn’t contaminated. 

The Role of PFAS in Water Contamination

A major concern brought into the spotlight by the AFFF lawsuit is that of water sources being affected by the run-off from firefighting foam. Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is widely used at airports and military bases for its effectiveness against fires caused by flammable liquids like gasoline. 

According to TorHoerman Law, AFFF contains PFAS, a compound that doesn’t break down in the environment or the bloodstream of people who’ve been exposed to it. This compound has been linked to serious health complications, including bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and immune system dysfunction. 

Gardeners who use well water are especially vulnerable if they live near an airport, industrial site, or military base. It’s recommended that you test your water for PFAS contamination to be sure it’s safe to use.

Final Thoughts

Carefully plan your gardening and homestead with intention of creating healthy soil and clean water. This forethought will help to create a flourishing space that doesn’t pose a danger to you and your family.

By staying informed about potential contamination in your area and conducting regular tests, you can create a garden that doesn’t only thrive but endures. 

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