A Crappy Situation: Dog Poo Bags Clog Canton Drains

CANTON, MA — This is why there's a no dumping rule when it comes to storm drains and catch basins.

In what is being nicknamed "Poopgate," Canton officials say they have had to remove bags of dog waste from 3,600 feet of storm drains. The bags have caused blocked rain water, leaving it on the street.

Canton DPW Superintendent Michael Trotta told the Boston Globe that the blockage caused yard and driveway flooding. When it became evident that the water wasn't going down the drains, town officials discovered the plastic bags of dog waste inside the catch basins.

It took three days of work around Dedham Street to clear the drains.

The incident has served as a reminder to people to throw away your dog's waste in a trash bin and not down the drain. The catch basins drain to brooks and streams, which lead to river and ponds, meaning that throwing poop down the drain could lead to pollution, bacteria, and people swimming in dirty water.

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