If you live in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, or Norfolk, you're part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. That means what happens in your backyard doesn't stay in your backyard.
How Pet Waste Reaches the Bay
Hampton Roads receives an average of 46 inches of rain per year. When it rains, water flows across your lawn, picks up any pet waste that hasn't been removed, and carries it into storm drains. In most cities — including Chesapeake and Virginia Beach — storm drains flow directly into local waterways, not to treatment plants.
That means the bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus in pet waste ends up in the Elizabeth River, the Lafayette River, Back Bay, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay — one of the largest and most ecologically important estuaries in the United States.
The Numbers Are Significant
Studies have shown that pet waste is responsible for a measurable percentage of bacterial contamination in urban waterways. In some Hampton Roads waterways, fecal bacteria levels regularly exceed safe limits for swimming and shellfish harvesting — and pet waste is a documented contributing factor.
The nitrogen and phosphorus in dog waste also contribute to algae blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water and harm fish and aquatic life. This is the same problem caused by fertilizer runoff — and pet waste is essentially an unmanaged fertilizer dump every time it rains.
Hampton Roads Is Especially Vulnerable
Unlike inland cities, Hampton Roads has very little buffer between residential yards and waterways. Many neighborhoods in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk sit within a mile or two of tidal rivers, marshes, or the Bay itself. The region's flat topography and frequent flooding mean runoff travels quickly and with little filtration.
Neighborhoods near the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, the North Landing River, Lynnhaven Bay, and the Lafayette River are particularly connected to the storm drain system. If you live in or near these watersheds, responsible pet waste management has a direct and measurable impact on water quality.
What You Can Do
- Pick up waste promptly — within 24–48 hours of deposit
- Bag and dispose of waste in the trash (not compost or storm drains)
- Never hose pet waste toward a storm drain
- Use a regular pet waste removal service to stay consistently on top of it
Even small actions add up. One dog produces roughly 274 pounds of waste per year. At the neighborhood scale, consistent pickup makes a real difference to local water quality.
🌊 Our commitment: At Tidewater Pet Waste Removal, we bag and properly dispose of all waste we collect. We're your neighbors in Chesapeake, and we care about keeping Hampton Roads clean — on land and in the water.