CITY OF MANSFIELD STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
PET WASTES
Pick Up The Poop!
Pet wastes are a problem associated with urban areas. The problem is the high density of animals cared for as pets, and the amount of wastes they produce. If their wastes are not picked up, the wastes will enter our local waterways.
Once in our waterways, the wastes breakdown and provide nutrients to aquatic life. This often leads to algal blooms. Another problem with pet wastes is that they introduce microorganisms to our waterways. Some of these microorganisms pose a health risk to aquatic wildlife, our pets, and us.
Pet wastes left on yards, or on park grounds, are not treated by water treatment facilities before they enter our local waterways. They are washed into the storm drain system, and eventually into our local ponds, creeks, streams and Joe Pool Lake.
What do I do with the poop?
There are bags made specifically for picking up after pets. The bags are designed so that you can pick up the waste without touching it directly and they can be thrown into a trashcan nearby. Do not flush plastic bags down a toilet, as this will cause the toilets to back up.
Pooper-scoopers allow you to pick up the wastes without getting close to it at all. They can then be emptied in trashcan, or flushed down a toilet. The wastes can also be buried in a yard for disposal.
Pet wastes should never be placed in a compost pile. While the wastes do contain nutrients, they also contain microorganisms that can lead to health issues when using compost contaminated with animal wastes.
Pet wastes should be thrown in with other trash, or flushed down the toilet. But wastes flushed down the toilet should be wrapped in paper, not plastic.
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