There is a new novelty which has started to take hold and it is quite resourceful, or even creative, in the efforts toward a cleaner environment and sewer system. It begins with soliciting the help of animals, namely dogs, to assist in ‘sewer duty’. Recently, a team of specially trained dogs pointed out more than 70 specific areas where human waste may be making its way into the environment and waterways. These very savvy dogs have sniffed out potential problems such as: broken or leaking sewer pipes, failed septic systems, and places where waste may not belong. In addition to the common use of snaking cameras along sewer pipes to pinpoint where a fix may be needed, dogs can play a useful part in the detection of unstable areas of the sewer system. Their services can also help eliminate sources of pollution. The dogs are rescued from shelters and specially trained to detect human waste in the same way that other dogs are trained to sniff out drugs or explosives. Interestingly, they give an alert either by barking or sitting down when they detect something.
It’s worth noting that an increasing number of our furry friends are also finding themselves in quite a debacle. The sewer system is, of course, no place to become lost or stuck. Even so, animals ranging from kittens to dogs to raccoons to ducks and even alligators, to name a few, have somehow wound up in the sewer system. The most recent mishap occurred in Colorado where a kitten misstepped and required rescuing from 8 feet below. Fortunately, a crew was able to assist as the kitten who grabbed hold of a towel with its claws and climbed up. Thankfully, the kitten was rescued!
On conservation: the city of Denver is in the process of calculating residential water usage amounts. The most recent data has shown customers are using less water than years past. The quantity has lowered to approximately 90 gallons a day, per person.
