Briefing at the Water Department
Sgt Poopers paid a visit to the City of Dallas Water Department — the government agency in charge of protecting water quality by in municipal creeks, streams and lakes.
Our purpose in visiting was to strengthen our partnership with the Water Department, who have already been very busy in helping to maintain clean waterways.
We briefed water officials on our community education efforts and exchanged ideas on better ways to improve awareness of dog waste as a non-source point pollutant. Run off from sprinklers and rain carry fecal matter from Dallas lawns and into storm drains which empty directly into creeks and waterways that feed into lakes and even the Trinity River. Storm drain water is not processed to remove pollutants, so it is important to limit dog waste since it directly contaminates the water with fecal matter.
"Yes, it seems the practices associated with the Dark Ages aren't so far back as we thought, but are alive and well right under our feet."
There are approximately 1.2 million dogs in the Dallas area, which is like a city of half a million people using their backyards as a toilet. Yes, it seems the practices associated with the Dark Ages aren't so far back as we thought, but are alive and well right under our feet.
Obviously the popularity of dogs as pets, and the consequent high concentration of K9 population in urban areas has brought unforeseen consequences in terms of pollutants. Luckily it is a problem we can all do something about.
- Learn how pathogens are transmitted to humans.
- Learn more about our conservation work.
- How we disinfect your yard when we clean
Tags: dog waste removal, pooper scooping, Sgt Poopers, Dallas, Texas, Conservation, Water Quality, Water Pollution, Storm Water