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DOG OWNERS CAN MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY! STEPPING IN DOG WASTE CAN BE A NASTY EXPERIENCE. Even worse is the knowledge that dog waste may be polluting our drinking water, local swimming areas, and favorite lake fishing areas. WHY ALL THE FUSS? Because pet waste pollutes local water resources and can be a significant public health risk! When rain or snowmelt flows over land surfaces it carries pet waste to stormdrains, which eventually flow into nearby lakes, streams, and wetlands. The polluted runoff contains harmful bacteria and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and can make lakes and streams unsafe for drinking and swimming. Microorganisms found in the dog waste can cause human diseases and health problems from roundworms, Giardia and Salmonella, viruses, and parasites. Nitrogen and phosphorus from the waste will also promote the growth of unwanted algae and rooted aquatic plants in lakes and streams. DOG OWNERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS IN ORDER TO PROTECT LOCAL WATER RESOURCES. Scooping your dog’s waste isn’t just a courtesy for those walking behind you; it also keeps our water resources safe. Here are a few tips on how dog owners can protect local water resources and recreation areas. Always bring a plastic bag with you when you walk your dog. Use the bag like a glove, pick up the pet waste, turn the bag inside out, and seal it. Place the bag in the trash, or flush the un-bagged waste down the toilet. Homeowners with large yards can also bury the dog waste in a hole at least 5 inches deep and away from vegetable gardens and waterways. NEVER PLACE THE DOG WASTE (BAGGED OR UN-BAGGED) IN THE STORM DRAIN! Storm drains lead directly to streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. And remember…dog waste is only one of many pollutants that impact local waterways. Community members are also encouraged to reduce runoff containing lawn fertilizers, motor oil, driveway sand and salt, and yard waste such as grass clippings and leaves. ONE DAY’S WASTE FROM A LARGE DOG CAN CONTAIN 7.8 BILLION FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA. Pet waste pollutes our rivers, lakes, and streams. If you think picking up dog waste is unpleasant, try swimming in it. This fact sheet was created by the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board as part of a public stormwater education program jointly funded by the following municipalities: the Towns of Camillus, Clay, Dewitt, Geddes, LaFayette, Lysander, Manlius, Marcellus, Onondaga, Salina, Sullivan, Van Buren, Hastings, Cicero, West Monroe, and Pompey, the Villages of Baldwinsville, East Syracuse, Phoenix, Fayetteville, Manlius, Marcellus, Minoa, North Syracuse, Solvay, the City of Syracuse, and Madison and Onondaga Counties.