How do poor landscaping practices impact local water quality?

Poor landscaping practices significantly impact local water quality primarily by contributing to runoff and pollution. When landscapes are poorly designed or maintained, factors such as excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides can lead to these chemicals washing away with rain or irrigation water. This results in runoff that carries pollutants into local waterways, where they can cause harm to aquatic ecosystems and lead to issues such as algal blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water and harm fish and other aquatic life.

Additionally, improper landscaping can result in erosion, leading to sediment entering water bodies which can further degrade water quality by increasing turbidity and disrupting habitats. The lack of proper vegetation can also reduce the ability of soil to absorb water, exacerbating runoff problems.

In contrast, practices that enhance water filtration would typically involve the use of native plants and other sustainable landscaping techniques that promote healthy ecosystems rather than degrade them. Options suggesting no impact or only increasing evaporation rates do not accurately address the significant risks that poor practices pose to local water quality. Thus, the recognition of runoff and pollution as a major consequence of poor landscaping practices underscores the importance of implementing sound landscaping strategies to protect the environment.