Pet Waste and Our Waters

Clean and plentiful water is important to our families, our environment, our economy and our quality of life.

Did you know that animal waste from pets can pollute our waters?

When left on the ground, pet waste is washed by rain and melting snow and ice into storm drains that carry it to our rivers, lakes, the ocean and drinking water.

Animal waste contains a high concentration of nutrients as well as bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms that can cause problems.

What You Can Do

Pet owners or anyone who takes your pet for walks must properly dispose of the waste by picking it up, wrapping it and either placing it in the trash or flushing it unwrapped down the toilet.

Your municipality is required to adopt and enforce local pet-waste laws. At a minimum, your community must require that pet owners or their keepers immediately and properly dispose of their pets solid waste deposited on any public or private property not owned or possessed by that person. People with assistance animals such as Seeing Eye dogs are exempt. Make sure you know what your municipality requires and follow it.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Atlantic County’s waters clean.