Only You Can Prevent Poopollution
Watch Where You Step
In Washington County there are over 70,000 domestic dogs and 90,000 cats. These pets produce roughly 36,000 pounds of waste each day, or 13 million pounds each year. Across the country pets are being implicated as a significant source of water pollution. Water from rain, watering your garden, or washing your car can wash pet waste into our neighborhood streams and the Tualatin River. Pet waste is a more significant problem in urban and suburban areas because of a higher concentration of pets and more impervious surfaces that drain quickly into streams. The Tualatin River and some of its tributaries are listed as water quality limited for bacteria, nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen. Pet wastes contribute to all of these problems.
Stormwater is a Significant Source of Bacteria
The Center for Watershed Protection estimates that urban stormwater has about 100 times as much fecal streptococci, and 200-2000 times more fecal coliform than forest runoff. A DNA fingerprinting study done by Clean Water Services indicates that dogs are responsible for 13% of E. Coli. Cats, who tend to bury their waste were implicated by only 1% of the E. Coli bacteria.
Diapers for Ducks?
The CWS DNA fingerprint study found that 51% of E. coli came from waterfowl. You can help prevent concentrating waterfowl waste by not feeding the ducks and geese in the park and eliminating lawn from your waterside landscape. Removal of dams that cause in-stream ponds on tributary streams of the Tualatin River is a public policy that TRK and CWS have advocated to reduce waterfowl waste instreams, lower water temperatures, and improve fish passage. Link to duck diapers
Pretty People Pick Up Poo
The Center for Watershed Protection surveyed dog owners in the Chesapeake Bay area and found that 41% of dog owners don't pick up after their dogs. Surveys in Maryland and Washington DC had similar results. The Clean Water Services behavior survey indicates that well over 86% of respondents have a negative view of people who don't pick up after their dogs, characterizing them as lazy, irresponsible, inconsiderate, rude, or uncaring. As far as we know, none of the respondents used the word "terrorist".
What To Do With Your Dog Doo
Dog waste pollution could be solved if everyone picked up after their pets. Ann Cox of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality says, "The best method for pet waste removal is to remove it, bag it and put it into your garbage cans". She doesn't recommend "doggy septic tanks" sold at pet supply stores because they don't work well in areas of high water or in the clay soils common in the Tualatin Valley. In sandy soils, these systems risk contamination of groundwater. For kennels DEQ has a list of Best Management Practices including these:
- Remove solids as dry material and dispose into the garbage can.
- Don't turn solid waste into liquid waste by washing it down.
- Avoid the overuse of disinfectants.
Preventing Poop Problems in Parks
When walking your dog, carry a plastic bag with you. New leashes are available that have a bag dispenser built in. The proper technique is to put the plastic bag over your hand, grab the stuff, invert the bag around the stuff, tie off, and drop it in a trash can. It's perfectly sanitary and once you get in the habit it is no big deal to do. When others see you, they will follow your good example. Parks departments across the country are finding that compliance with scoop laws is higher in areas that have signage and plastic bag dispensers. If you find an area that has a persistent poop problem, call you local parks department and see if they can put up a sign and dispenser. And remember, don't feed the ducks.
