Not to diminish the significance and sheer dreadfulness of the 860 billion gallons of sewage that spill every year in the U.S., but at least untreated sewage doesn't comprise a significant percentage of the flow of any U.S. rivers. However, a recent report out of China revealed that ten percent of the flow of the country's second longest river, the Yellow River, is from untreated sewage.

The river is a drinking water source for 150 million people and is used to irrigate crops throughout the country. Weak environmental standards provide little incentive for polluters to clean up their operations.

It's no wonder that Chinese River Dolphins are on the brink of extinction.

Now the Spills of the Week:

Maui-ewee: A cracked sewer main sent raw sewage into a storm drain near the Maui Mall. The cracked sewer main was located in the mall parking lot. While it took crews less than an hour to stop the flow of sewage, the length of time the spill had been happening before it was report has yet to be determined.
- May 12, 2007: Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, HI

The Creeks Are Especially Unsafe: Residents were reminded to stay away from Furnace and Marley Creeks near Glen Burnie, MD after a sewage spill sent 78,000 gallons of sewage into the two streams. Contact warnings are the norm on both the Furnace and the Marley. For ten years, contact warnings, due to elevated bacteria levels in the creeks, have cautioned residents to stay out of these waters. Hmm, wonder what the source of the bacteria could be?
- May 12, 2007: Maryland Gazette, Glen Burnie Edition - Glen Burnie, MD

Seattle SuperToxics: Construction debris from the Brightwater sewage project clogged sewer lines in King County, WA causing sewage backups into several Seattle area homes. Sewer operators claim vandals are responsible for clogging the lines. Angry residents and the sewer operator are clashing over who is responsible for fixing the damage to the affected homes.
- May 13, 2007: KOMO TV - Seattle, WA

Deep (Doo-Doo) River: A shopping center has been tagged as the source of a 100,000 gallon sewage spill into a tributary of the Deep River in North Carolina. "This creek is normally pristine clear and it was black, blue with sewage and you could smell it from several hundred feet away," said witness, Shannon Oliver.
- May 14, 2007: WFMY News - Greensboro, NC

Malipoo, California: Aging and failing septic systems in the Paradise Cove mobile home community in Malibu, CA is causing raw sewage to flow in the streets of the community. The recent spill highlights the ongoing problems Paradise Cove residents have faced while waiting for city sewage services to reach their community. Homes in Paradise Cove were supposed to be hooked up to the city sewage treatment grid two years ago.
- May 16, 2007: Malibu Times, Malibu, CA

Ida-uh-oh: A power outage at the Sandpoint Wastewater Treatment Plant led to an 83,000 gallon sewage spill into the Pend Oreille River. The cause of the of the power outage: Avian Terrorists! According to the newspaper report: "A power outage due to a fire caused the plant to malfunction, [Public Works Director, Kody] Van Dyk said. It's believed an osprey dropped a branch across some electrical lines, causing a power pole to catch on fire." Alfred Hitchcock wasn't kidding.
- May 16, 2007: Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID

Poo-lolo Stream: Hawaii Department of Health are advised to stay out of Palolo Stream following a sewage spill. Sewage entered the stream from a storm drain.
- May 17, 2007: KGMB 9- Honolulu, HI

Largoo, Florida: Pinellas County, Florida Authorities are speculating that excessive pressure in a 12" sewer main caused the pipe to burst in two places spewing an estimated 20,000 gallons of raw sewage into city streets and into the Intracoastal Waterway. The break occurred right in front of an elementary school. This is the second spill to occur in this area in just a little over a month's time.
-May 17, 2007: WTSP Tampa Bay's 10 - Tampa Bay, FL