Take care of your pet and livestock waste

People from around the world live on Lake Pend Oreille for its peaceful solitude, terrific scenery, and splendid clean water. Life around the lake may seem worry-free, but in recent years the lake has experienced a notable increase in shoreline algae.

Increased algae can create beach scum, foul odors, and unpleasant views. Cloudy, green water makes the lake unattractive for swimming, boating, or fishing. Excessive algae growth also depletes oxygen from the water, which harms fish populations.

Pet and livestock waste contains the nutrient phosphorus, which encourages algae growth. Storm water runoff can cause phosphorus and harmful bacteria from waste to be carried directly into our lakes and rivers. Various diseases or parasites may also be transmitted to humans due to swimming in or drinking contaminated water.

Here are some simple options for helping to keep our waters clear of pet waste:

• When walking your pet, remember to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly. Be sure to utilize free pet waste stations and supplies available in some city, county, and state parks.

• Flush pet wastes down the toilet; a septic system or wastewater treatment plant removes pollutants before they can enter water bodies.

• Bury pet waste in your yard. Dig a hole that is away from any ditch, well, water body or vegetable garden.

• Dispose of pet waste in the trash if it’s legal in your area. However, this can still cause some pollution problems even when taken to a landfill or incinerator.

• Never add pet waste to your compost pile; the pile doesn’t get hot enough to kill disease organisms present in the waste.

• Always remove waste from areas where children play.

And for those of you who own livestock:

• Keep manure piles protected from the weather; rainfall or snowmelt can mix with the pile and cause contaminants to wash off-site.

• Lining your manure storage area helps prevent leaching of nutrients into the groundwater.

• Store and apply manure away from wells, surface water, and water bodies.

• Keep livestock away from stream banks and provide them a water source away from water bodies.

• Rotate animal grazing areas to prevent waste runoff and soil erosion.

Another convenient solution to pet waste is to buy an underground pet waste digester. It works like a small septic tank by using environment-friendly enzymes and bacteria to turn dog waste into a ground-absorbed liquid. These digesters usually cost around $25-60. Contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and your local conservation district for more information and assistance. Remember, a clean lake begins at your doorstep!

John Sugden is a member of the Tri-State Water Quality Council.