One gram of dog poop can contain up to 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, and dog poop is also a common carrier of whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, parvo,  giardia, salmonella, cryptosporidium, and others.

Seasonal actions for water and soil health:

• Try switching to sand or grit during freeze-thaw cycles. These cycles can water down salt and create bigger ice dams and issues on sidewalks. Sweep-up extra sand and grit for re-use later on or next year. 
• Use a flat scoop shovel and an ice scraper to clear snow and ice away from a nearby stormdrain. Doing this ongoing helps to prevent a big headache as snow and ice build up, and avoids the temptation for some to use a large amount of salt as a means to clear the stormdrain.
• Start shopping for rainbarrels as needed - beat the rush of spring sales!

Looking ahead: 

• Turn compost piles in spring to encourage airflow and boost decomposition as temperatures warm up. 
• Watch for leftover sand and salt as spring sets in. Sweeping it up and either disposing it or storing it for re-use helps to guarantee it won't make its way to a lake or wetland. Doing this promptly and not totally relying on street sweepers helps remove the material before sudden spring rains wash it away before the street sweepers can get there. 

Smart Salting Tipcard

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