When it rains, pet waste is picked up by rainwater as it flows over the land. The polluted rainwater goes down storm drains and into our lakes, streams, and rivers.

Animal waste contains pathogens, which are organisms that can make people sick. When there are too many of these pathogens in the water, beaches will close to protect human health. Pathogens are one of the leading causes of water quality problems in the United States.

Animal waste also is a source of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) that can lead to excessive algae growth.

Resources:

• How Will You Grow?: Helpful resources for whatever horticulture project you're growing
• Keep it Clean: Information on keeping pet waste out of streams
• Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution: An EPA collection of resources related to NPS and actions to reduce NPS
• Recreational Water Quality Criteria and Methods: EPA criteria to protect people from organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, and their associated toxins in water bodies
• Outbreaks of Illness Associated with Recreational Water: A CDC report of illness outbreaks in treated (ex. pools) and untreated (ex. lakes) recreational waters
• Beach Closures: A Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution overview of beach closures
• What is nutrient pollution?: A NOAA overview of excess nutrients in waterways

• Install pet waste stations