Our canine companions bring us so much joy—until their movements make it to our waters. Plug your nose and listen up:
Use ’em, for the love of clean shoes AND clean water! (via Elvert Barnes)
There are roughly 83 million dogs in the U.S., and each one produces a hefty 275 pounds of droppings a year.
Quick gross-out moment: It is estimated that almost half of dog owners do not pick up after their beloved pooches. This is a problem because, in addition to yucking up sidewalks, those droppings can run off into our waters—with harmful bacteria like E. coli and fecal coliform in tow.
“When you think about it collectively, it’s a huge problem,” says Jill Hoffman, executive director of the White River Alliance. She explains that dog waste has been linked to beach closures (yuck) as well as drinking water contamination (double yuck).
“It’s a pretty substantial public health risk that a lot of people aren’t aware of,” she adds.
So to keep our waters clean, disposing of pet business must be everyone’s business.
Get schooled:
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- Get the scoop on some surprising best practices for pet waste disposal, thanks to UW Extension
- See how the EPA addresses water pollution with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
- Take a pledge and stand with the Clear Choices Clean Water campaign, with video inspiration below…
The fine print:
- This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
