|
Lake Protection
When your pet leave those little surprises, rain washes all
that pet waste and bacteria into our storm drains. And then pollutes our waterways.
The problem with pet waste.
It's a health risk to pets and people, especially children. It's a nuisance
in our neighborhoods. Pet waste is full of bacteria that can make people sick.
If it's washed into the storm drain and ends up in a lake, stream or marine
water, the bacteria ends up in shellfish. People who eat those shellfish can
get very sick. The waste produced by cats and dogs in the Charles River Watershed
adds up to nearly 3 tons per day! Unless people take care of it, the waste
enters our water with no treatment.
What You can do to HELP ! ~ Clean
Water Tips.
Simple!
Scoop up and seal pest waste in a plastic bag. Dispose of waste properly in
the garbage or (preferably in the toilet). Then that little surprise gets
treated like it should. Never dump pest waste into a storm drain or catch
basin, since the average dog dropping produces 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria.
Clean water is important to all of
us.
It's up to all of us to make it happen. In recent years sources of water pollution
like industrial wastes from factories have been greatly reduced. Now, more
than 60 percent of water pollution comes from things like cars leaking oil,
fertilizers from farms and gardens and failing septic tanks. All these sources
add up to a big pollution problem. But each of us can do small things to help
clean up our water too-and that adds up to a pollution solution!
Why do we need clean water?
Having clean water is of primary importance for our health and economy. Clean
water provides recreation, commercial opportunities, fish habitat, drinking
water and adds beauty to our landscape. All of us benefit from clean water-and
all of us have a role in getting and keeping our lakes, rivers, marine and
ground waters clean.
This information is brought to you by the Department of Environmental Protection.
To find more ways of how
you can help, check out the:
EPA’s
Citizen Action Page -- http://www.epa.gov/ow/citizen/thingstodo.html
EPA’s
NPS Do’s and Don’ts -- http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/nps/dosdont.html
|
