Keep Waterways Clean- Pick Up Pet Waste

Your Dog and Storm Water

For the health of our children and local waters, always pick up after your dog

Storm water—water that flows overland from weather events or snow melt—is one of the most significant sources of water pollution today. Storm water picks up pollutants in its path and is transported, untreated, directly into the Charles River and Alewife Brook. Dog waste left on the ground is a major source of harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites polluting these waterways, and the only way to prevent it is by dog owners cleaning up after their dogs. The water quality of the Charles River has come a long way, but its continued improvement rests in our hands.

Remember:

• Always clean up after your dog, even in your own yard.
• Always carry extra pet waste bags on your walks.
• Dispose of waste into your own trash bin, toilet, or public trash bin, never in a catch basin.
• Keep dogs on-leash in wetlands and other sensitive areas.

To receive a free pet waste bag dispenser (while supplies last) and join a responsible community of dog owners in Cambridge, come into the Animal Commission office (344 Broadway, 1st floor Cambridge, MA 02139) to sign the “Canines for Clean Water” pledge form. To learn more about storm water and water quality see: www.cambridgema.gov/stormwater Thank you for helping to keep Cambridge’s rivers, parks, and open spaces clean