Otterwa?

July 31, 2009 11:41 AM

Are there any animals in the Ottawa (Canada) area likely to be harmed by flushable cat litter?
posted by Jairus to science & nature (3 comments total)

You mean if discharged in the municipal waste stream, down the toilet?

It will be removed at the water treatment plant (in the settling ponds) and have no impact on the Ottawa River. Unless we have more storms and another waste gate gets left open, that is.
posted by bonehead at 12:15 PM on July 31

The research has shown that it's not treated sewage discharge, but probably surface runoff from areas with lots of outdoor cats that was causing otter problems.
posted by electroboy at 12:46 PM on July 31

I'm not sure of the municipal sewage situation for Ottawa, but cat feces has been shown to cause death in sea otters. There aren't any sea otters for you to worry about there, but maybe something to think about anyway.
posted by just_ducky at 4:18 PM on July 31