Dog droppings are one of the leading causes of E. Coli pollution: each gram of dog poop has over 20,000,000 E. Coli colonies in it. You may not think one little pile of poop could be a problem, but multiply that by the several thousand dogs registered in the Burlington area and think about it washing into a stream and the Lake next time it rains. The runoff from neglected pet waste contaminates Lake Champlain's water, creating a public health hazard for residents who use the Lake (See E. Coli and Beach Closings).

The "Scoop the Poop" Campaign, a collaboration between Burlington Eco Info and the Burlington Neighborhood Project, was initiated to educate pet owners about the impact of their pet's waste on Lake Champlain and to encourage owners to clean up after their pets.

If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact the Burlington Neighborhood Project at (802) 865-7178.

Learn more about what else is contained in urban stormwater runoff.