Pet Waste
Responsible Pet Ownership and Prevention of Non-Point Source Water Pollution
Non-Point source (NPS) pollution is contamination that reaches our creeks from everyday activities such as fertilizing the lawn, walking pets, changing motor oil and littering. With each rainfall, pollutants generated by these activities are washed from the streets and lawns into the storm drains that flow to our creeks. You can help prevent NPS pollution.
Pet Waste
As a pet owner you can establish habits that will help keep our creeks free of pollutants. Animal wastes contain bacteria, viruses and nutrients. These constituents will lower water quality in our creeks. Walk your pets in grassy areas, parks or undeveloped areas. Take a plastic bag or pooper scooper along on your walk and pick up your pet’s waste. What should you do with the waste that you pick up? You may flush it down the toilet, bury it in the yard (don’t add it to your compost pile) or put it in the trash. Pollutants from improper disposal of pet waste may wash into the creeks through the storm drainage system. YOU can make a difference!Flea Dip Disposal
Do not pour flea dip solutions on the driveways or into the streets. Liquid on hard surfaces will likely enter the storm drainage system and flow to the nearby creek. Flea dips usually contain an insecticide that can harm aquatic life. If you are applying an insecticide to your lawn for flea control, be sure that no rain is forecast for the next several days. Rain can wash the insecticide off your lawn and into the storm drainage system.Solutions that contain pyrethrins as the active ingredient may be disposed of in the sanitary sewer, flushing with plenty of water. However, dipping solutions or insecticides containing organophosphate chemicals such as dursban, diazinon or malathion cannot be disposed of in the sanitary sewer. Please take any unused products to the Home Chemical Collection Center at 11234 Plano Road, Dallas, 75243. For more information or hours of operation call (214) 553-1765. Mesquite residents must show proof of residency with driver's license or utility bill. If you have any questions concerning environmentally friendly alternative please call the Health Division at (972) 216-8138.