Your pet waste may have more of an impact than you think.
By Jacob Walsh
Man’s best friend. Good boy. The furry member of your family. Whatever name you call your pet, it’s no doubt that you would do anything to ensure they have the best life possible. This includes purchasing things like food, toys, and pet waste disposal supplies. However, your pet’s waste and your disposal methods could have a harmful impact on our environment.
I am currently an intern at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy working in partnership with the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative. We investigate, map, and test water quality at various storm pipes and manholes located in several towns throughout southeastern Massachusetts.
In addition to these tasks, I would like to take the opportunity to inform you about how storm drains work. A storm drain is essentially a part of the road system that drains rain from surfaces such as paved streets and parking lots. However, it is entirely separate from the accompanying sewer system. Therefore, instead of going to a treatment plant, anything sent through a storm pipe will eventually drain to lakes, rivers, and ultimately the bay.
One of the most common problems we find in our investigations is pet waste and pet waste disposal bags inside many of the storm pipes. Intentional or not, this is an issue that can have harmful effects in our community. Pet waste contains harmful pollutants that can have adverse effects on the local bays, streams, and land. This makes the water murky, green, smelly, and un-usable for activities like fishing and boating. Pet waste is particularly harmful to swimming beaches and may cause beach closures due to high bacteria.
In addition to the harmful effects of the pet waste itself, the disposal bags also contribute to the ever-growing problem of plastics affecting our oceans. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, on average over eight million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. To put it into context, that is equivalent to dumping one entire garbage truck into the ocean every minute!
The ocean is a vital part of our world, and it’s going to take everyone’s help to ensure our valuable natural resources are around for future generations to enjoy. Some things you can do to help, while seemingly small, will have a lasting impact on our community. Things such as picking up after your dog, properly disposing of pet waste, and using biodegradable bags are all ways to maintain a prosperous, cohesive, and vibrant community for all to enjoy.
To learn about more ways to benefit your community and protect against stormwater pollution, visit https://stormwater.buzzardsbay.org/, and remember to pick up after your furry friends!
•••
Click here to download the entire 8/12/21 issue: 08-12-21 PurpleHeart
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
