Scoop the Poop!
Pet Waste is a bigger problem than many people realize!
A single gram of pet waste contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, including E.coli, which can harm human health and the environment.
Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Overly fertile water becomes cloudy, slimy, and green/black, as a result of eutrophication, which causes health concerns for for swimmers, boaters, and fish.
Perhaps most importantly, pet waste can carry diseases which could make water unsafe for contact. In addition to E.coli, additional health concerns include:
Campylobacteriosis - bacterial infection
Salmonellosis - bacterial infection
Toxocariasis - roundworm infection
Toxoplasmosis - protozoan parasite infection
Giardiasis - protozoan parasite infection
Pet Waste Outreach Materials
Podcast: Pet Waste and Our Waterways
In the Salt Lake Valley, runoff from rain storms and snowmelt flows directly to local creeks and rivers with NO treatment. Pollution of storm water is a serious problem for wildlife and for the people who live near streams or use them for recreation. Pet waste tops the list of pollutants that impact our water quality and pose harm to human and environmental health.
Salt Lake County is working with citizens and businesses to improve water quality and clean up storm water runoff. We hope you will join us, by keeping pet wastes off the ground and out of our rivers and streams.
Bacteria from improperly disposed pet waste may be washed into the storm drainage system by rain, irrigation, or melting snow.
When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams, the waste decays, using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures kill fish.
Postcard: SLCo Pet Waste Postcard (2 sided pdf)
Door Hanger: Dump No Waste Stenciling Door Hanger (Example from Dover, NH)
Guide: How to Conduct a Pet Waste Campaign (New Hamshire Example)
Article: Why is Pet Waste Such a Big Deal?
Article: Pick Up After Your Pet: It’s Polite AND Protects the Environment!
Graphic- We <3 Our Dogs, but their poop, not so much!
Brochures:
Salt Lake County: The Real Scoop on Dog Poop
Cottonwood Heights: Pet Waste and Water Quality
Midvale: Pet Waste and Water Quality
West Valley City: Pet Waste and Water Quality
Herriman City: Pet Waste and Water Quality
EPA- Pick up after your pet- Watershed (from Kansas)
EPA- Petwaste pollutes our rivers lakes and streams
The Pet Waste- Water Quality Connection- Town of Carboro
Don’t Let Your Pet Pollute- Lacey, WA
Social Media Samples of Post verbiage: Scoop The Poop Posts
Pet Waste Data & Reports
Salt Lake County Stream Data Dashboard - E.Coli (Searchable)
Salt Lake County- The Real Scoop on Dog Poop
USDA- Pet Waste Systems Help Protect Water Quality
Know Where It Goes—Do You Scoop the Poop? (Rhode Island)
CDC- Healthy Pets, Healthy People
Parasites and Poop: The Importance of Picking Up After Your Dog- Associated Veterinary
The Problem With Dog Waste- Marion County Welllfield Education Corporation
Pet Waste Complaints- D.C. Dept of Energy and the Environment