Picking up dog waste is the less glamorous side of pet ownership, but it is more important than you might think. When pet waste is left on the lawn or sidewalk, it’s more than just a nuisance. When it rains, harmful bacteria and excess nutrients in dog pop are washed into local rivers and streams. This contamination affects water quality, aquatic life, and even the health of our communities.
Dog Waste: From Lawns to Waterways
It might seem like a little dog poop won’t do any harm, but remember, pet waste is not a natural part of our environment. It’s not like wild animal waste that decomposes and recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem. Because dogs have a different diet, their waste is a different composition and breaks down slowly.
When dog waste is left behind, rain eventually washes it into ponds and streams, directly or indirectly through storm drains that connect to waterways. Everything that is in the waste—like pathogens and nutrients—gets washed into waterways too. Over time, this contributes to poor water quality and makes our local streams, ponds, and lakes less healthy for wildlife, pets, and people.
What’s in Dog Waste?
Dog waste contains contaminants that don’t belong in our rivers and streams.
- Bacteria and parasites: Just one gram of dog poop can contain 23 million bacteria! Dog waste can contain harmful organisms like E. coli, Giardia, and roundworms. While dogs are able to handle most of these pathogens, they can be harmful to people and other animals. Even when the dog poop washes away or breaks down, many of these bacteria and parasites can persist in the environment.
- Excess nutrients: Dog waste is packed with nutrients—just like manure. But pet waste doesn’t fertilize farm fields, it fuels algal growth in ponds, lakes, and streams. Algal blooms throw the water chemistry out of balance, eventually depleting dissolved oxygen that fish and other aquatic animals need to survive.
The Big Picture: Small Actions Add Up
One pile of dog poop may not seem like a big deal—but think about how many dogs live in your neighborhood. In fact, the Enviro Pet Waste Network estimates that 6.5 million tons of dog waste are sent to U.S. landfills each year. So, when people don’t pick up after their pets, it adds up fast.
Pet waste may not be the biggest threat to the health of our rivers and streams. However, pollution in our waterways doesn’t come from just one source—it’s a combination of many stressors, such as road salt, lawn chemicals, litter, and pet waste. These pollutants add up over time and impact water quality, aquatic life, and even river recreation. That’s why simple, everyday actions—like picking up after our dogs—can have a positive impact when we all do our part.
Be Part of the Solution to Protect Clean Water
The good news? This is a problem we can prevent just by being responsible dog owners. Here’s how:
- Scoop the poop every time, everywhere. Even in your own yard.
- Make it easy. Always have bags on you. Clip a dog waste bag dispenser onto the lease.
- Trash it, don’t toss it. Never leave bagged poop on the trail or throw it in the woods.
- Be a good neighbor. By cleaning up after your pup, you make your neighborhood a cleaner, more enjoyable place. Consider asking your town to install a pet waste bag station at places where you enjoy walking your dog.
Dog waste doesn’t just disappear—it becomes pollution. Just by cleaning up after your pets, you help protect our rivers, streams, and lakes. Thanks for doing your part to protect our water and our community!
