When rainwater washes into the sewers, it can carry all kinds of gunk with it. The storm sewer can carry this gunk to a lake or river miles away:
- Litter
- Oil and antifreeze from cars
- Pesticide and fertilizer from yards. Pesticides are used to kill insects and weeds. Fertilizer is plant food.
- Leaves and other plant material. When plant material in lakes and rivers rots, it can take oxygen out of the water. It steals oxygen from fish.
- Soil. Even something as valuable as soil can cause pollution when it gets in our lakes and rivers.
- Paint and household chemicals
- Dog poop. One dog may not leave much on the ground. But how about 10,000 dogs in a city? That’s a lot of gunk, which can get in our water!
Dogs may be cute, but they leave messes that can get into our sewers. Pick up after your dog.