With 16,000 pounds of dog waste a day in Bellingham, how much is going into the water?
Summer is here and with it comes people who walk their dogs in parks, on hiking trails and even around the neighborhood. But with it comes dog waste that can get into our waterways and drinking water supplies.
Pet waste is raw sewage that can spread disease such as roundworms, salmonella and E.coli.
Harmful levels of fecal waste have been found in all of the urban creeks in Bellingham, according to Amy Cloud with Bellingham Public Works. This is especially a problem in Lake Whatcom, which is the source of drinking water for nearly half the county.
Where does it come from? Parks and trails abut the lake, and there also is runoff, even from private residences.
A problem in keeping creeks and waterways clean in Bellingham is the sheer amount of waste created by dogs in the city. There are about 16,000 pounds of dog poop created in a day in Bellingham, Public Works Environmental Education Coordinator Emily Hegarty estimated in 2021. A city spokesman said that estimate is unchanged for 2023.
Symptoms of E. coli include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and occasionally fever. It usually goes away in 3-4 days and does not require antibiotics.
The city’s “We Scoop” campaign promotes proper pet waste disposal in Bellingham. This campaign offers participants an annual dog photo contest and prize drawing. Participants are entered by taking the “We Scoop” pledge every September to clean up after their pets.
Pledgers are sent “We Scoop” stickers to place on their curbside trash cans. These stickers promote the program, remind the participant of their pledge, and inform people that trash cans are the proper place to dispose of waste left by pets.
This campaign has partnered with Whatcom County to increase the reach of the program.
It is important to clean up after pets not just in public areas, but in private yards. The waste will be washed out of a backyard when it rains just as easily as it will in a public space, and then mix in with creeks and lakes.
The amount of waste in creeks, streams and lakes increases during the first rain after a heavy dry spell. It’s important to pick up after pets quickly when it is raining especially as it washes away quicker, according to the campaign.
Pet owners often bring their dogs with them when they hike the many trails Bellingham has to offer. With roughly 72 trails in the Bellingham area, it’s critical for people to pick up quickly after their pets.
Local hikers sometimes have been confused by the uncommon sight of bagged poop sitting on the trails and wondered why bag the poop if there, and why the pet owner didn’t dispose of it. People say they often leave the bags with the intention of picking them up on the way back, so they don’t have to carry it with them during their walk or hike.
But the city is aware of this behavior and encourages people not to use this practice as it is easy to forget to pick it up the bags on the way out, and serves as “unsightly litter” until it is picked up by someone else.
“Some parks and trails provide poop bags and trash cans, but it is your responsibility to come prepared and remove your dog’s waste at all times,” the city website states.
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 6:40 AM.
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