Shoppers will likely notice little change when they go to buy dishwashing detergent in Whatcom County after July 1.

The state is banning the sale or distribution of dishwashing detergents containing more than 0.5 percent phosphorus in our county, and Spokane County, starting in July.

While that means that some brands that shoppers have gotten used to will no longer be available, there will still be plenty of non-phosphorus detergents to choose from.

The ban, passed by the Legislature in 2006, is meant to help cut down on the amount of phosphorus that makes it into local waters. In 2010, the ban will go statewide. But given the known problems with phosphorus in Lake Whatcom, it should be obvious why our community was chosen to start early.

Some people in the community are upset with the ban, seeing it as an unnecessary government intrusion into their lives. But buying a different brand of detergent is little to ask in the efforts to protect water supplies, both in the lake and elsewhere.

In Lake Whatcom, phosphorus feeds algae growth, which in turn leads to the oxygen depletion that has landed the lake on federal list of impaired waterbodies and is forcing local governments to take measures to protect and restore the lake.

Most of the wastewater from people’s dishwashers is carried by sewage lines down to Bellingham’s wastewater treatment plant. But there are many people living around the lake who have septic tanks, and that on-site treatment can lead to leakage into the lake.

More phosphorus in other waters is not a good thing either.

We believe the change is one small, but necessary, step toward helping eliminate pollution problems. It is certainly not unheard of for our government to ban chemicals or metals that can harm the environment or people. Gasoline is now unleaded, for example. A 1972 ban on DDT is partially responsible for saving eagles from extinction. Phosphates in laundry detergents were limited in the late 1980s.

We would suggest that the legislation that created this ban doesn’t go far enough, though, in that it treats households differently from industrial and commercial sites. Those facilities will still be able to use detergent with higher phosphorus counts. We urge regulators to look again and make the ban statewide for all users when it goes into effect in 2010.

For the time being, some shoppers may find they have to change brands. But all of the big detergent manufacturers are hard at work on new, limited-phosphate formulas, meant to be on the shelves by 2010.

Until them, Whatcom County residents should take comfort knowing they are ahead of the curve and doing the right thing to protect water resources.