Dog Waste and Local Waterways: The Runoff Problem

It's easy to think of dog waste as a private, backyard problem. But every rainstorm turns your lawn into part of a much larger system, carrying whatever is left on the ground toward storm drains that often empty, untreated, into local creeks and lakes.

How runoff works

Storm drains in most neighborhoods are not connected to sewage treatment. Water that runs off your yard flows straight to the nearest waterway, carrying bacteria and nutrients from any waste it passes over on the way.

Your yard is part of the solution

Picking up promptly — especially before forecasted rain — keeps that pollution out of the watershed entirely. It's one of the simplest, most direct environmental habits a household can adopt.

Clean waterways start with clean yards. A consistent scooping routine keeps your corner of the neighborhood from contributing to the problem.