• Courtesy photo: Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - In 2013, the Ingham Conservation
District found E.coli levels that exceed Water Quality Standards at several sites within the Red Cedar River Watershed.

Local organizations are looking to pet owners to help improve the water quality in the area.

When pet waste isn't picked up from a dog park, trail or lawn, decomposition begins allowing toxic bacteria to seep into soil. Pet waste carries dangerous pathogens and pollutes freshwater supply.

"Pollution Isn't Pretty" is a regional education campaign informing residents about the dangers in not cleaning pet waste, eventually washing into rivers and streams.

"That water goes directly to our rivers and streams without treatment. So when you're walking your dog and they're doing their thing it's really important to pick it up and put that waste in the trash," said Tri-County Regional Senior Environmental Planner, Erin Campbell.

A trip to the park may cost a non-cooperative pet owner $150 for breaking the Zero Tolerance Policy set by Meridian Township and Police. Pet owners could be charged $75 for not having their dogs on a leash, and $75 for not picking up waste.

Meridian Township Director of Parks and Recreation, LuAnn Maisner said, "Meridian Township Police Officers will be issuing citations to people in our parks who are not picking up after their pets and who have their pets off leash."

Pet waste in the Township has gotten so bad by trickling into athletic fields where kids play. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dog poop is as toxic to the environment as chemical and oil spills.

Meridian Township is doing their part by providing courtesy litter bags at the beginning of each trail so owners can pick up their pet waste. Not only is dog waste a threat to our water, it's a threat to other animals. However, LuAnn Maisner has a simple solution for the hazardous issue saying, "If everyone does their part, it's a wonderful thing. That's really all, the message is very clear. Everyone just needs to do their part and take responsibilities for their pets."

Until everyone does their part, in the meantime what goes on the ground ends up in our water.