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The pollution in our stormwater is a result of all our individual actions add- ed together. Take it personally when you see your neighbor polluting our stormwater and practice stormwater friendly actions yourself. Together we can keep our rivers, lakes, and streams clean! POLLUTION PREVENTION Like human waste, animal waste may contain harmful bacteria and viruses, making the water unfit for irrigation, recreation, or other uses. These bacte- ria and viruses can pose health risks to humans. In addition pet waste contain nutrients that will speed up the growth of nuisance algae in lakes and rivers. The Scoop on Dog Poop Until they take care of their own business, it’s your business. Public Works Department 201 1st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 (406)758-7720 6 Unsettling Facts about Dog Waste 1. Dog waste is NOT fertilizer for your lawn. In fact, it is just the opposite and can be very toxic to your soil. Due to their high- protein diet, dog waste is highly acidic and will actually burn your grass creating brown patch- es. 2. Just one gram of dog waste can contain as many as 23 million fecal coliform bac- teria. Waste can seep into groundwater and spread salmonella and giardia. This poses a haz- ard to your pets, your family, and your land- scape. 3. Your lawn mower doesn’t help, in fact can make it worse. Mowers will actually chop up the waste into smaller pieces and spread it further throughout your yard where you, your children, and your pets continue to step in it and then bring it into your home. 4. Dog fecal matter is a major contributor to stormwater pollution. One out of three households have at least one dog, and all that dog poop left out can be blown into storm drains, lakes, and streams. When in water, the liquefied waste consumes the oxygen and re- leases ammonia, which contaminates our re- sources as well as harms the fish that reside there. 5. The EPA classified dog waste as a dan- gerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oils. The average dog discards approximately three quarters of a pound of waste per day, which adds up to 275 lbs per year. Your yard might be more polluted than you think. 6. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirms that hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms, and salmonella can be spread by contact with infected dog waste. It can take over one year for dog waste to decay, but even when it has visibly disap- peared, the parasite eggs it contained can linger on for years in your soil-leaving your family and your pets vulnerable to serious infections. ---PAGE BREAK--- Did you know… pet waste is more than smelly and it is a health risk to pets, streams, lakes and people, especially children. Pet waste left on trails, sidewalks, streets, and grassy areas are imme- diately flushed into the nearest water way when it rains. Pet waste should be picked up and either be: Flushed down the toilet (without the bag) Put in the trash container Buried in your own yard. If you want to bury pet waste, make sure it is in a hole around five inches deep, away from vegeta- ble gardens and water sources, and in per- meable soil (not clay). Do not add it to compost piles—the pile will not get hot enough to kill disease organisms. If available, use a poop collection service. Whether you are in your yard or on a walk, dispose of your pet’s waste to prevent it from washing in- to our lakes, rivers, and streams. Dog clean-up stations… ….are provided for your convenience at the following locations: KYAC Sport Complex Woodland Park Lawrence Park Park Lions Park Thompson Park Meridian Rails to Trails