Pet waste that is left on sidewalks,
roads, driveways, parks and yards can mix with rainfall and snowmelt
and travel to storm
drains and surface waters causing pollution and an increased
risk of disease.
It may be difficult to picture how one dog or cat depositing
a small amount of animal waste here and there can result in potential
water pollution, but studies have shown that the cumulative impact
of waste from all the pets, livestock, and resident waterfowl
within a watershed can have a significant impact on water quality
and may also cause human health risks.
 Pick
up after your pet. When going for walks with your dog, bring
along a plastic bag and scooper. Pet waste should also
be removed daily from your yard. How should you dispose of it?
No solution is perfect, but here are a few choices:
 Flush
solid waste down the toilet. Do NOT flush leaves, sticks, debris
or cat litter down the toilet!
 Bury
the waste in a proper spot in your yard about five inches
below the ground surface (the upper soil layer is the biologically
active layer). Another option
is to install an in-ground pet waste disposal system that works much like
a septic tank (this requires a deep hole).
Burial
is not recommended in areas with poor drainage and high water tables (within
18 to 30 inches from the surface). It is also not an effective option when
temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. Never locate burial areas near a
drinking
water well, surface waters, storm drains or vegetable gardens.
 Dispose of solid
waste and used cat litter in the trash, sealed securely in a plastic bag. While
this transfers the problem to a landfill, it does protect
the larger watershed area from potential pollution.
 Train outdoor cats
to use a litter box.
 In larger yards,
you can train your dog to use natural woodland areas or areas where grass
is not frequently mowed (left at least 4 inches tall). The waste
will naturally decompose as long as it is not at a risk of mixing and traveling
with stormwater runoff. Do not rely on “natural areas” that are
located near surface waters, drinking water wells, or vegetable gardens.
 Similarly, dog
yards and dog runs should never be located near a drinking water well or
immediately upslope of a surface water body. Ideally,
the area should be fairly level and well-vegetated and located away from
vegetable gardens
and children’s play areas. Solid
waste should be collected and disposed of using the options outlined above.
 Don’t feed
the waterfowl! It encourages a higher number of birds than natural food supplies
can support. These large flocks of birds also deposit
large quantities of waste in and around surface waters, impacting water quality.

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