Law Banning Harmful Phosphorus in Dish Detergent Takes Effect

Wisconsin residents will be able to run dishwashers with less concern about negatively impacting the quality of the state’s waters after a law substantially limiting phosphorus content in automatic dishwasher soap took effect July 1.

“Phosphorus is the primary culprit responsible for triggering the unsightly and smelly algae blooms that kill fish, destroy ecosystems, and diminish our enjoyment of Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams,” said Amber Meyer Smith, program director at Clean Wisconsin. “Every pound of phosphorus entering our waters can produce 500 pounds of harmful algae, so reducing even small amounts of phosphorus pollution can have a big impact on the quality of our water.”

The federal government lists nearly one-half of Wisconsin’s waterways as impaired due to phosphorus pollution, and reports of human illness and dog deaths resulting from dangerous blue-green algae blooms have been on the rise in recent years.

The law signed in November aims to reduce algae events and improve water quality by limiting phosphorus content in automatic dishwasher detergents sold in the state to no more than 0.5 percent.

“Limiting phosphorus in automatic dishwashing detergents alone will not eliminate harmful algae blooms,” said Smith, “but it represents one of many important steps being taken to improve the quality of our waters.”

For more information on Clean Wisconsin, call 608.251.7020, email [email protected], or visit http://www.cleanwisconsin.org.