[Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste from Dog Parks?

[Eddie Becker]

Tom raised some very good points.  Among them, how much will it cost to capture and treat dog park urine and is it worth the price? 

And it's hard to tell without knowing how much pharmaceutical loading is taking place at dog parks.  And the only way to tell is by testing.   But there has not been any testing of established dog parks, at least - no one on this e-mail list dedicated to pharmaceutical waste , has yet to come forward with test data.

Municipalities may want to consider the cost benefit of locating a dog park near a sensitive ecosystem, where fish and bi-valves reproduce,  near reservoirs or intake points for drinking water.  


"Waters, Tom" <twaters at seminolecountyfl.gov> wrote:               Well, this isn't going to be a real popular  response.  However, I personally feel that runoff from dog parks is a real  stretch.  My points of concern include:
    
   How would you propose    collecting urine in a "park?"  Are you going to pave it with everything    sloped to drains?  So much for green space.    
   Then you're going to have    to cover it to keep the rainwater from discharging to the sanitary    sewer.  Now we have a dog pole barn - not a park.     
   From everything I have    seen there is not a treatment system that will remove medications in    wastewater treatment plants; at least a a    reasonable cost.  If such systems were availalbe we wouldn't be    preaching not to flush unwanted medications.       
   For what it's worth, I    don't think there is a real comparison between dog parks and feed lots.     There’s not much room on a feed lot for the cattle to run.      
   What about the    cost?  It is tough enough to get land for a dog park.  
 The town I live in (not  work in) has a temporary dog park with a big push toward building a  permanent one.  There is no doubt in my mind that if a system to  collect and treat urine was required it would be dropped like smelly dog  pooh.  
  
 I know I am way off base  with many of you, but I think there is a lot more to be done, before we worry  about dog parks.  
  
 Tom  Waters
  
 PS - Now I’m feeling bad because my rescued  lab has to get cortisone shots for allergies and the shots make him drink more  water and the water makes him urinate more.  (Please do not send me your alternative  solutions to the cortisone shots – I have enough already.)  
  

  
---------------------------------
 From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us  [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Eddie  Becker
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:18 PM
To:  Pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Pharmwaste from  Dog Parks?


 
 Does anyone know of any environmental or pharmaceutical testing  at dog parks or dog runs.  I am working on dog park regulations  and since dogs are probably the second most medicated species (everything from  antibiotics to Prozac) - it seems prudent to recommend the appropriate  disposal of urine in dog parks, rather then letting it flow untreated  into steams and rivers.  Any pointers would be much appreciated.   
 Eddie Becker
 Washington, DC
  

  
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  -****Florida has a very broad Public Records Law. Virtually all written communications to or from State and Local Officials and employees are public records available to the public and media upon request. Seminole County policy does not differentiate between personal and business emails. E-mail sent on the County system will be considered public and will only be withheld from disclosure if deemed confidential pursuant to State Law.****-
  
 
 

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