Pick Up After Your Pet Project

Why is it important to pick up after your pet?

Most pet owners do not know it, but leaving your pet's waste beside the neighborhood sidewalk or local greenway could be causing a water quality problem. When it rains, especially in an urban area like Roanoke, stormwater carries pollutants including your pet's waste into storm sewers. Storm sewers do not go to the regional treatment plant, but empty directly into your local creek or river. So it is important to collect and dispose of your pet's waste in order prevent the spread of diseases such as giardiasis, salmonellosis, and toxocariasins.

Is this a problem in the Roanoke Valley?

A recent study by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality found that from June 2002-July 2003 nearly 50% of bacteria found in the Roanoke River near River's Edge Park was from pet waste.

Figure 1. Probable Sources of Bacteria in the Roanoke River.

What is URRR doing to address this issue?

The URRR has teamed up with the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Western Virginia Water Authority, VDCR, VDEQ, VDH, Virginia Environmental Endowment, Ferrum College, Virginia Tech to obtain grant monies to educate the citizens of the Roanoke Valley about this issue.

The City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department has placed pet waste receptacles along popular greenways:

1) Smith Park
2) River's Edge Park
3) Fishbourne Park


Roanoke County has installed pet waste receptacles along the Mudlick Creek greenway.

Additional Information

URRR Pet Flier

Washington State Flier

Rutgers University Flier

University of Wisconsin Flier

Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet: Animal Waste Collection

USA Today: Dog waste poses threat to water