LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A group of scientists and engineers within the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government work to protect rivers and streams from pollutants, but some residents may be causing unintentional harm.

Storm sewers are separate from sanitary sewers. Storm water isn’t treated and heads straight into creeks and streams.

Bailee Young helps oversee the program in Lexington and monitors contaminant levels across Fayette County. A chart from the Environmental Protection Agency shows areas of detected issues marked in red.

“The goal is for those to be healthy so we can swim, and we don’t have any fish issues and there’s no impairments,” Young said.

Pet waste adds up quickly

According to U.S. Census data, Fayette County has roughly 80,000 dogs. The EPA estimates each dog prod

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