How You Can Help Prevent Poo-llution
Let's talk about poop. No, really, let's talk about poop! Does your
family own a dog? You probably even know lots of people with dogs. Now
what do you think happens to all of the dog waste our pets leave behind?
When pet waste is left on the ground, especially near streets and
sidewalks, rain, snowmelt, and your sprinklers wash it into storm drains
and drainage ditches! This water, called runoff, generally does not get
piped to the local wastewater plant to get cleaned or treated. So where
does the runoff go, you ask?
Most often, it collects in
underground wells to seep down to the aquifer. Otherwise, it flows
directly to our streams, rivers, and lakes. Who wants to drink, or swim
and fish in that?! Yuck!
Don't worry, though, nobody has to
give up their pooch. Pet owners can improve water quality simply by
picking up after their pets and throwing the waste away in the trash!