Next time you smell the unmistakable stench of raw sewage, take a big wiff, its good for you. According to British researchers, the chemical gas known as Hydrogen Sulfide, the gas associated with the smell of sewage and rotten eggs, actually plays a role in regulating our blood pressure. Researchers say that H2S naturally produced in our bodies relaxes vascular tissues aiding in the smooth flow of blood.

What can I say, its spring. I'll admit it, it's been way too nice out and the levels on the Potomac have been great paddling lately oh and there's the whole wrapping up my first semester in grad school. Others have been busy as well. Recently, we've been hearing good news from all of the people working on federal Right to Know legislation. Kudos. We've also been hearing good things from people around the country, working through how to upgrade their sewer and storm water management systems. That is tough work and worth the effort. But we still hear not-so-good news from others, like the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality who are considering lowering the water quality standards which will put many people at serious risk of getting sick every year. That's not governing for the people. That's not standing up to the source of pollution. If anything, we should be strictly enforcing the standards on the books, or better yet raising the bar to meet the fishable and swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act. Our water must be clean and clear. Let's go boatin'.

And now the Spills of the Week:
Sewage Spill in Laguna Beach, CA

Here's a news Round up of the continued fall out from February's Richardson Bay sewage spill in the San Francisco Bay are.

Sewage agencies face scrutiny after spills
Marin Independent Journal - 4/9/2008

Bay Area sewage spills being investigated
Mercury News - 4/2/2008

I don't think we covered this spill in Arcade Creek Sacramento, CA a month or so, but KCRA 3 News film crews caught some pretty dramatic video what a sewer main breach looks like. be

And now the Spills of the Week:

Following the recent sewage discharges in Bay Area waters the California legislature is going to necessary and overdue actions to address the problem. The Clean Water Act of 2008 (Assembly Bill 2986) was introduced by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and coauthored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Francisco), and is sponsored by Baykeeper and Friends of the Earth, will require the state to issue every sewage treatment plant in California a report card that shines a light on waste water collection systems that are polluting our waters.

Here's Assemblyman Leno's statement:

Some in Washington think that reinvesting in our sewage and storm water infrastructure might be throwing good money down the toilet. In Israel this week some one really did flush good money down the drain. According to the Associated Press, workers at the sewage treatment facility in Tiberias found roughly $2,000 floating in and amongst the solids and toilet paper. The workers called the police, who at first didn't believe them. When the supervisor at the facility insisted, the police came and fished the dirty cash from the stinky stew. Police can only speculate, but they think it might be the result of a domestic disturbance. Now that really is flushing money down the drain!

And Now the Spills of the Week:

Here's an update on las month's horrendous San Francisco Bay sewage spill. Iinitial reports put the spill at 5.2 million gallons. It has now been discovered that the spill was in fact much larger and as much as 7.5 million gallons spilled into the Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The wastewater deposited into Calera Creek, and subsequently the ocean, contained everything from fats and oils to heavy metals and anything else flushed into the sewer system that day.

Editors Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. SOW will return to it's Friday posting on the 7th. - JK

A Kentucky man, David Bowling, was fined more than $260,000 and sentenced to a year in prison for dumping raw sewage into the Big Sandy River, in Kentucky. Bowling, who owned and operated Dave's Concrete Products and Septic Service was caught in December 2006 taking his septic truck labeled "water" and emptying thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the Big Sandy. It either takes complete idiocy or complete disregard for your community to pull a stunt like that.

Blatant disrespect for the law, our communities and the health and prosperity of our children, neighbors and families is just plain wrong. Here's your sign... Bowling!!

And now the Spills of the Week:

Week of Feb. 22

A McDonald's in Birmingham England had to close this week after a sewage pipe burst into the restaurant and play area. According to anonymous sources, "The sewage exploded out of the pipe and down into the party area. There's been a smell of rotten cabbage for about two weeks and staff were leaving doors open, not knowing what the problem was." The restaurant claims to have thoroughly cleaned the play area and eatery and is now again open to serve the highest quality food at the lowest possible price. I'm lobin' it!!!

And Now the Spills of the Week:

I only thought this sort of thing happened in New York City in 1984. A Sussex sewage treatment plant is experiencing both the best and the worst of 1984 cinema as sewer authorities have called in parapsychologists to investigate a "zombie-like humanoid figure" that follows plant workers around the dank tunnels of the Southern Waters' Eastbourne treatment works. I imagine the tunnels of a sewage treatment plant are scary enough without creepy figures lurking in the shadows and the sound of anonymous laughter and muffled conversations coming through the walls. [shudder] gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

And now the Spills of the Week (sorry for the delay):