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Cleaning up pet waste

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September 7, 2004

We all love our furry friends. However, we don't love the little presents they leave for us in our yard or the gifts they drop off during our daily walks. Yes folks, I'm talking about pet waste. Pet waste is gross; there's no question about it. But let me give you something else to think about...

Where does your pet waste go if you don't pick it up?

Well, I would love it if pet waste would turn into a rubber ducky like the stormwater commercials you've been seeing on TV. However, unless you've buried your pet waste about 6 inches deep, or put it in a pet waste composter, your pet's waste is going to sort of melt away the next time it rains. Great! It's not in your yard anymore right? Wrong, it's called pet waste for a reason. It has potential to go right into local waters. Every time it rains water washes down our streets and into local waters or 'waters of the State'. Along with that water goes everything else that isn't secured to the ground. Soil and sediment don't stand a chance against stormwater; neither do the bacteria in pet waste. The bacteria in pet waste can be harmful to our drinking supply and because Maine still has very high water quality, there are many areas in Maine that get their drinking water from surface water supplies. These surface water supplies can be easily effected by outside sources.

I know what you're thinking, "'what if I don't live near fresh water"? Well, we all live in a watershed, so every time it rains our stormwater drains to the nearest body of water. If your stormwater isn't draining to fresh water it's draining directly into the ocean. By contributing to stormwater pollution with our pet's waste, we're adding bacteria to our seafood supply as well.

So what do you do with the treats your doggie leaves for you? Pick them up! All you have to do is take an inside-out plastic baggie and grab your gift and reverse the bag. Then you can put the tied up bag in your outdoor trash bin. Make sure you check with your local garbage policy, some places won't pick up pet waste in the curbside garbage. You also have the option of flushing your pet waste; this goes for cat waste as well. Be sure not to overload your septic if there is a lot of kitty litter mixed in.

Keeping our waters clean means that we can stay healthy. The easiest way to do that is to prevent bacterial contamination in the first place. So pick up that pet waste, no matter how gross, because it's far worse to think about drinking that waste a little further down the line.

Have some ideas for reducing waste? Send me your questions and comments to sbernier@sacomaine.org. Please be sure to include whether or not you would like your name to be mentioned. Also, for more information on stormwater go to www.thinkbluemaine.org. Think Blue! Clean water starts with you.