Pet
Waste: Dealing with a Real Problem
Pet
waste is not the predominant or most toxic pollutant in urban streams,
but it is one of many small sources of pollution that can cumulatively
have a big impact if left unmanaged. The New Jersey Department of Health
has estimated that there are over 500,000 dogs in the state.
Add to this figure cats and other smaller pets, and a significant volume
of waste is being generated daily. 
Pet
waste contains bacteria and parasites, as well as organic matter and
nutrients, notably nitrogen and phosphorous.
Some
of the diseases that can be spread from pet waste are:
-
Campylobacteriosis-
a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea in humans. -
Salmonellosis-
the most common bacterial infection transmitted to humans from animals.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. -
Toxocarisis-
roundworms transmitted from animals to humans. Symptoms include
vision loss, rash, fever, or cough.
In addition to these
diseases, the organic matter and nutrients contained in pet waste can
degrade water quality. When pet waste is washed into a surface water
body, the waste decays. This process of breaking down the organic matter
in the waste uses up dissolved oxygen and releases ammonia. Low oxygen
levels, increased ammonia and warm summer water temperatures can kill
fish.
Excess phosphorous
and nitrogen added to surface waters can lead to cloudy, green water
from accelerated algae and weed growth. Decay of this extra organic
matter can depress oxygen levels, killing organisms. Objectionable odors
can also occur.
Flies and other
pest insects can also increase when pet waste is disposed of improperly,
becoming a nuisance and adding another vector for disease transmission.
Managing pet waste
properly is something that everyone can do to make a difference in their
respective watersheds. Truly, proper individual actions result in significant
water quality improvement when carried out by the majority. Unlike some
forms of stormwater pollutants, pet waste can be easily and economically
managed by the individual.
Sometimes, the ‘out
of sight, out of mind’ attitude exists regarding pet waste. Employing
this flawed thinking, waste is often disposed of in the street stormwater
catch basin. Aside from dumping directly into a water body, this is
the single worst place to dispose of waste. In the next rainstorm,
the accumulated waste is transported quickly and efficiently to the
nearby receiving water course, polluting it. Water quality monitoring
studies in New Jersey have emphasized this specific problem. That said,
then, specifically what can be done?
