United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4606)
EPA916-F-01-027
July 2001
Source Water Protection
Practices Bulletin
Managing Pet and Wildlife Waste
to Prevent Contamination of
Drinking Water
Animal waste or feces have long been isolated from
people for public health reasons. However, droppings
from pets, such as dogs, cats, exotic birds and rabbits, are
deposited into rivers, streams, and other water bodies and
can threaten human health. This fact sheet addresses
some of the measures pet owners can take to improve
water quality and reduce the burden on drinking water
treatment. (See the fact sheet on livestock, poultry, and
horse wastes for information on management measures
related to these animals.)
SOURCES OF PET AND WILDLIFE WASTE
While livestock are the greatest contributor of animal waste, perhaps the least suspected source
of animal waste is man's very own best friend. Pets, particularly dogs, are significant
contributors to source water contamination. Studies performed on watersheds in the Seattle,
Washington, area found that nearly 20 percent of the bacteria found in water samples were
matched with dogs as the host animals.
Wild birds and small mammals can introduce microorganisms into a water supply through
direct contact or from watershed runoff. Wildlife commonly associated with microbial
contamination of drinking
water supplies include deer,
beavers, muskrats, rodents,
gulls, and geese. Birds are
widely reported to be one of
the most common and
significant sources of
contamination of open
reservoirs. Areas that are
suitable for pets can attract
wildlife as well, so tips pet
owners can use to deter
wildlife are presented in this
fact sheet.
Snow geese
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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MANAGE PET AND WILDLIFE WASTE NEAR THE
SOURCES OF YOUR DRINKING WATER?
Probably the greatest health concern associated with animal wastes is pathogens. Many
pathogens found in animal waste can infect humans if ingested. Organisms such as
Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, and Salmonella can induce symptoms ranging from skin
sores to chest pain. E. coli, which causes diarrhea and abdominal gas, has been the source of
disease outbreaks in several States. Particularly virulent strains of E. coli can cause serious
illness and fatalities. Cryptosporidium is of particular concern because it is highly resistant to
disinfection with chlorine. This protozoan causes gastrointestinal illness lasting two to ten
days in healthy individuals but can be fatal in people with weakened immune systems.
Dog and cat droppings often contain roundworms and other parasitic nematodes. Infection by
just a few roundworms usually causes no problems, but more severe infections may cause
fevers, bronchitis, asthma, or vision problems. Cat feces may contain toxoplasmosis, a parasite
that infects humans and other animals. Cats are the only animals known to excrete
toxoplasmosis oocysts, which are resistant to most disinfectants. Toxoplasmosis is a serious
health concern for pregnant women and immuno-compromised individuals.
AVAILABLE PREVENTION MEASURES TO ADDRESS PET AND WILDLIFE
WASTE
The most effective way for pet owners to limit their pet's contribution to source water
contamination is to simply clean up and dispose of pet waste. As long as the droppings are not
mixed with other materials, pet waste should be flushed down the toilet. This allows waste to
be properly treated by a community sewage plant or septic system. Also, pet waste can be
buried or sealed in a plastic bag and put into the garbage if local law allows it (check with the
local health department to be sure).
To bury pet wastes, dig a hole at least one foot deep, and place three to four inches of pet
waste at the bottom. Use a shovel to chop and mix the wastes into the soil at the bottom, then
cover the wastes with at least eight inches of soil to keep rodents and pets from digging them
up. Pet wastes should only be buried around ornamental plants, and never in vegetable gardens
or food-growing locations.
Pet wastes are not recommended for back yard compost piles. While animal manures can
make useful fertilizer, parasites carried in dog and cat feces can cause diseases in humans and
should not be incorporated into compost piles. Dogs and cats should be kept away from
gardens as well.
Pets should not be walked near streams, ponds,
or lakes. Stream banks should not be part of the
normal territory of animals. Instead, walk pets
in grassy areas, parks, or undeveloped areas. Pet
wastes left on sidewalks, streets, or other paved
and hard surfaces are readily carried by storm
water into streams. Pet wastes should be kept
out of street gutters and storm drains.
Some more advanced practices that can be
adopted in public parks are doggy loos and
pooch patches. Doggy loos are disposal units installed in the ground where decomposition can
occur. If pets are allowed off-leash, they can be trained to defecate on pooch patches, which
are sandy areas designated for that purpose. Special bins can also be provided for the disposal
of pet waste. Wherever pets defecate, whether in public parks or backyards, the "Long Grass
Principle" can be used to prevent source water contamination. Not only are dogs readily
attracted to long grass, but long grass helps to filter pollutants and the feces can decompose
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naturally while minimally polluting runoff. A height of around ten centimeters (10 cm) is
appropriate for such long grass. These long grass areas, however, should be placed away from
overland flow paths, stream channels, lakes, drinking water wells, and storm water drainage
inlets.
Managing Wildlife
Although there are a variety of ways to decrease the risk posed by non-domestic animals by
removing attractants or harassing nuisance species, any such plans should be implemented only
with a good understanding of the nuisance wildlife population in question. For example,
Federal or State permits might be required for wildlife control harassment programs; in
addition, some nuisance species, such as Canada geese, are protected by Federal law, and
harming the birds or their eggs can result in stiff penalties. Consult fish and wildlife agencies
regarding the handling of protected species.
Harassment programs can be implemented to repel birds and wildlife from valuable surface
waters. Available methods include habitat modification, decoys, eagle kites, noisemakers, and
scarecrows or plastic owls. A daily human presence can keep birds and other wild species
away.
Reducing the attractiveness of yards to wildlife might encourage these species to live
elsewhere. Species can be diverted from sensitive areas by using fencing, mowing, landscaping
changes, tree pruning (to reduce bird roosting), or drainage devices (to keep beavers and
muskrats from building dams and dens). Food sources can be kept to a minimum by
prohibiting feeding by the public, removing trash, securing pet feed, and reducing palatable
plant species.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
These sources contain information on pet waste pollution prevention measures. All of the
documents listed are available free of charge on the Internet.
If your community does not regulate pet waste, e.g., with a "pooper-scooper" ordinance, try to
make it a priority of your local governing body. Contact the local animal control officer or
local or State department of health. Encourage the parks and recreation department to place
pet waste collection and disposal stations in public parks.
Home*A*Syst (www.uwex.edu/homeasyst) provides valuable information on environmental
and health issues in and around the home.
U.S. EPA, Long Is land Sound Study. Pet Waste Poster. Retrieved February 19, 2001, from
the World Wide Web: http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/lis/posters/pet.html
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