Waste from pets, wildlife and agriculture cumulatively can have a negative impact on water quality. While this may hard to imagine, consider the fact that the number of registered dogs alone located in the towns of Scituate, Foster and Glocester is 1,882 for the year 2004. While human waste is treated through septic systems in these towns, animal waste sits on the ground and can be either washed away with storm water run-off into water bodies or saturate down into the ground water. Depending on the location of wells, streams, lakes and ponds this waste can be a potential threat to drinking water.

 PETS

Pets are valuable contributors to our families. They provide play time, protection, affection and companionship among other things. Dogs have even won the title of "Man's best friend"! There are many ways we care for our pets and one of them can be disposing of their waste properly.

Health concerns associated with animal wastes include pathogens with big names like Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, and Salmonella that can cause such symptoms from skin sores to chest pain. Children are more vulnerable to these disease causing organisms. E. Coli can cause diarrhea and abdominal gas and sometimes even serious illness or death. Dog and cat droppings often contain round worms and other parasitic nematodes. Infection by roundworms can cause mild to severe problems such as fever, bronchitis, asthma or vision problems. Cat feces may contain toxoplasmosis, a parasite that infects humans and other animals. Pregnant women and people with immunity deficiencies can face serious health consequences if infected with toxoplasmosis. While the Providence Water Supply tests and treats the reservoir water for the above biological contaminants before distribution, wells and recreational waters go generally untreated.

Dog feces and urine contain relatively large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients feed and stimulate the growth of algae in water bodies in much the same way as fertilizers help lawns to grow. This can cause the water body to become depleted in oxygen, making it less healthy for fish and large levels of growth can impede recreational and aesthetic value of water as well.

According to Bruce Warden, a scientist at the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, an average dog weighing 45 pounds will produce in its waste 13 pounds of nitrogen and 2 pounds of phosphorus per year. If we multiply these numbers by the number of registered dogs in the watershed towns, that equals 24,466 pounds of nitrogen and 3,764 pounds of phosphorus! These statistics are for registered dogs only, we also have many cats, rabbits, birds and other pets contributing nutrients.

Many residents in Scituate, Foster and Glocester live on large parcels of land. It is generally more important to pick up after pets in areas that abut streams, lakes or ponds; in areas where water flushes into storm drains (which drain to water bodies); in close proximity of a drinking water well (within 100 feet); on trails; and in areas where homes are in close proximity of each other, like in the villages. If you walk your dog along water bodies or trails, you should make it a routine to pick up after them. Encourage your pet to walk in grassy areas away from water, especially if you do not plan to clean up after them. Tall grass is attractive to dogs and it will keep the waste from washing away into water bodies.

 WHAT CAN I DO?

Here are some tips regarding pet wastes:

• Clean up and dispose of pet waste
  -- Use a pooper scooper, shovel, or plastic bag
  -- Flush waste down the toilet (as long as you don't include any sticks, leaves or plastic)
  -- Place it in a plastic bag and put it in the garbage
  -- Bury waste in a hole in your yard, away from your well, stream, pond or wetland IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE A HIGH WATER TABLE (18 inches or less from the ground surface); dig it at least one foot down and put a few inches of waste at the bottom and put about 8 inches of soil on top to keep rodents and pets from digging it up.
   
• Do not use pet waste in compost and do not use in your garden as fertilizer because of parasites – it is OK for ornamental plants.
   
• Dog yards and dog runs should never be located near a drinking water well or immediately upslope of a surface water body. Ideally, the area should be fairly level and well-vegetated and located away from vegetable gardens and children's play areas. Solid waste should be collected and disposed of using the options above.

URI Home*A*Syst Fact Sheet: Pet Waste (PDF/469K)

 WILDLIFE

Pets are generally under the owners control and there is a lot we can do to reduce the impact of their waste on water quality. Wildlife is not something we control; however, there are a few simple things we can do that will help protect water quality from geese.

Canada geese are a valuable natural resource that provide recreation and enjoyment to bird watchers, hunters and the public. The sight of the distinctive V-formation of a flock of Canada geese always brings a special thrill. Their calls herald the changing seasons. But in recent years, flocks of local-nesting or "resident" geese have become year-round inhabitants of our parks, waterways, residential areas, and golf courses, where they can cause significant problems.

In suburban areas throughout Rhode Island, shoreline home development with widespread lawns on lakes and ponds, lack of natural predators, limited hunting, and supplemental feeding have created an explosion in resident goose numbers. While most people find a few geese acceptable, problems develop as local flocks grow and the droppings become excessive (a goose produces a pound of droppings per day). Problems include over-grazing of lawns, accumulations of droppings and feathers on high use areas and walkways, nutrient loading to ponds, public health concerns at beaches and drinking water supplies, aggressive behavior by nesting birds and safety hazards near roads and airports.

All Canada geese, including resident flocks, are protected by Federal and State laws and regulations. In Rhode Island, management for Canada geese is shared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the R.I. Department of Environmental Management. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase, or possess migratory birds or their parts (feathers, nests, eggs, etc.) except as permitted by regulations.

While there are several methods used to discourage geese populations from inhabiting an area there are only a couple we will share with the children.

 WHAT CAN I DO?

Do not feed geese or other water fowl ...

• Feeding geese will cause the population to increase causing water quality problems.
   
• Feeding geese is unhealthy for them. Waterfowl require proper nutrition to survive New England winters. The diet of a young bird during its first year of life must be high in essential fats, proteins and nutrients to ensure proper development. People unknowingly harm waterfowl by hand feeding food that is low in nutritional value, like bread, crackers, popcorn and pastries. They need to eat insects, grasses and submerged aquatic plants to remain healthy.
   
• Feeding waterfowl creates problems that include:
     Malnutrition
     Dependency on humans; geese that depend on human handouts are less likely
     to migrate when severe winter weather arrives.
     Disease
     Water pollution
     Environmental degradation

 AGRICULTURE

Agricultural animals include chickens, horses, cows, pigs, sheep, llama, etc. Some people have only one or a few agricultural animals that they enjoy for their own family, while others have large farms that benefit the entire community. Like pets and wildlife, waste from these animals can be harmful if not properly managed.

 WHAT CAN I DO?

• All agricultural animals should be fenced out of streams, ponds or any water bodies. They simply do not have the discretion to leave the water while excreting!
   
• If you have livestock and stockpile the manure, feed and bedding waste, keep it sheltered from the weather and away from drinking water wells or other nearby surface waters. Do not allow rainfall, snowmelt or other surface runoff to mix with the stockpile.
   
• Depending on the amount of manure generated on a daily basis and the amount of land you own or have access to, it may be necessary to think about some options for handling, utilizing, or disposing of the agricultural waste properly. Livestock corrals, pastures and animal access areas may also need improved management. Some nurseries and farms may take your animal waste in order to compost and recycle it. You can call the Northern RI Conservation District at 949-1480 for assistance provided through the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Technical assistance is free and often cost share programs will help pay for much of the change necessary to improve water quality.
   
• Unlike pet waste, agricultural waste can be used for compost because agricultural animals are vegetarians. Selecting the site for the stacking the waste is important. The waste should be composted and stacked in areas that will not contaminate groundwater and surface water to protect nearby wells and streams, ponds and wetlands. In some cases the compost area should be on a concrete slab and covered. Depending on the consistency of the waste, leaves, food scraps, sawdust, straw, or wood chips may be added to create the right mixture. More information is available at the Northern RI Conservation District or the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. A good website for composting agricultural wastes is www.composting.org.

EPA: Managing Pet & Wildlife Waste to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water (PDF/100K)

Lake Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition

URI Healthy Landscapes: Pick Up After Your Pets

DEM: 5 Reasons Why Feeding Waterfowl Is Harmful (PDF/159K)

Information on Small Acreage Livestock