Waterway Safe Pet Owner Tips

Pet owners, this one is for you. Pets are incredible additions to our families here in Orange County. However, if we aren’t careful, caring for our dogs, horses, and livestock can harm our waterways.

Pet waste and animal care products contain pollutants that can impact OC’s creeks, rivers, and waterways if they flow into the storm drain system. Let’s talk about how your pets can impact our waterways and what you can do to prevent pollution.

Pet Impacts on Waterways

No matter the kind of pet you have, their waste and pet products have the potential to cause harm to Orange County’s creeks, rivers, and ocean. Unlike the sewer system, which treats water, anything that flows into the storm drain system can go untreated into our water bodies. This means that any bacteria, nutrients, or chemicals that come in contact with water as it flows into the storm drain system can go directly into our water resources.

There are three main types of pollution can come from pets: bacteria, nutrients, and chemicals & debris. Next, we’ll talk about where they each can come from and the impacts they can have:

Bacteria:

Bacteria can come from pet waste. Did you know that dog waste has more bacteria than human waste per gram? When rain or runoff meets pet waste left on the ground, it picks up harmful bacteria and carries it into storm drains, rivers, and other local waterways. This can pose a health risk to surfers and swimmers, as well as impact aquatic life.

Nutrients:

Pet waste can also contain nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus. Excess nutrients can fuel rapid and uncontrollable algae growth. This process, known as eutrophication, blocks sunlight from reaching underwater plants and depletes oxygen in the water. Lower oxygen levels in the water disrupt aquatic ecosystems and can harm fish.

Chemicals & Debris

Caring for pets sometimes requires the use of products like flea control treatments and shampoos. When bathing pets outdoors, fur, dander, debris, and soaps can runoff into our waterways and impair water quality if not properly disposed of.

Now, let’s talk about what you can do to protect OC’s waterways based on what animals you have!

Dogs

Picking up dog waste.

It’s on us to be responsible dog owners. They’re adorable and add so much to our families. Protect our waterways like our pups protect our homes by following these tips:

• Monitor the weather and make sure to pick up all waste from your yard before it rains to prevent harmful bacteria from entering the waterways.
• Pick up waste with a plastic bag, tie it shut, and place it in a closed bin.
• Carry waste bags with you whenever you’re taking your dog for a walk. It never hurts to bring extra bags too, so you don’t run out and can share them with someone else in need!
• Bathe dogs indoors or have them professionally groomed. The water from sinks and tubs flows to the sewer, where it is treated, removing harmful debris and chemicals.
• If bathing your dog outdoors is the only option, minimize water use and do so over a landscaped area so the wash water can seep into the ground. This will prevent pollutants from entering the storm drain system.
• Properly vaccinate your dog to maintain their health and reduce the possibility of germs in pet waste.
• Properly dispose of unused flea control products (shampoo, sprays, or collars) at a household hazardous waste collection center.
• Dispose of pet bedding by sealing it in a bag, then placing it in a covered trash bin.

What if you have livestock? Let’s discuss tips for them next.

Horses & Livestock

Horses in stable.

Horses and livestock have some different best management practices since they live outside our homes.  Follow these tips and say “neigh” to horse and livestock pollution.

• Follow all instructions on horse care product bottles and use the prescribed amounts of products, never more.
• Clean up horse care product spills immediately.
• When washing horses, allow wash water to infiltrate into the ground (like on grass), or collect in an area that is routed to a sanitary sewer, not a storm drain.
• If equestrian center borders concrete channels, set up proper BMPs.
• Store animal waste in a sturdy, seepage-free unit that is enclosed or under cover.
• Manure produced by livestock in uncovered areas should be removed daily for composting or stored in a water-tight container prior to disposal.  Avoid storing manure on-site for more than one week.
• Have wash water infiltrate into the ground or collect in an area that is routed to a sanitary sewer, not a storm drain.
• Confine livestock in fenced-in areas except during exercise and grazing times. Restrict animals’ access to creeks and streams, preferably by fencing.
• Consider indoor feeding of livestock during heavy rainfall to minimize manure exposed to potential runoff.
• Locate barns, corrals, and other high-use areas on portions of property that either drain away from or are located far from nearby creeks or storm drains.

Pet fish and aquatic life can impact our waterways, too. Let’s talk about them now!

Fish & Aquatic Life

Fish in fish tank.

There are many misconceptions about fish and aquatic care. Here’s how to o-fish-ally care for fish and aquatic life:

• Dispose of gravel, plants, and other tank materials in a sealed bag and dispose of them in a covered garbage bin.
• Pour used tank water down a sink or toilet instead of outdoors or into storm drains, and never directly into a lake, river, or the ocean.
• If you can no longer care for a fish or turtle, re-home it with a friend, local pet store, or rescue organization.
• If the fish has died, place it in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in a covered trash bin. Never flush fish down the toilet or release fish, or other aquatic animals into local waterways. Non-native species can become invasive, spread disease, and disrupt the balance of native ecosystems by competing with or harming local wildlife.
• The same thing goes for aquarium plants as well. While many aquarium plants may seem harmless, they can become invasive and harm local aquatic habitats if released.
• If you no longer need your aquarium, consider donating or selling the tank and supplies.

Care for your pets and our environment by being a waterway-smart pet owner. By keeping pollutants like bacteria, nutrients, and chemicals & debris out of our storm drain system, you can make an impact in helping our waterways thrive. For more pet care tips, click here.

Thank you for thinking of our water bodies as you care for your incredible animals!