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

A construction accident at the Salisbury, MD wastewater treatment Plant on Feb. 7 resulted in a reported 5,000 gallons of partially treated sewage being discharged into the Wicomico River through an on-site storm drain that feeds directly into the river.

On March 26 another construction accident while installing plant upgrades dumped an estimated 28,000 gallons or more of sewage into the river through the same storm drain.

Nothing ruins Christmas like sewage running through the streets of your home town. Deja vu all over again. Since December 22, sewage has been bubbling up to the surface and covering the streets of Hawthornvale, Scotland. Residents complained continually throughout the week but it wasn't until local media took an interest in the story did anything get down to alleviate the problem. "We were all told by customer services something would be done about it," said angry resident, Jonathon Harris. "At times it can be pretty foul smelling. It's a real mess of toilet paper and what can only be described as feces flowing down the side of the pavement in the gutter. It's absolutely disgusting and when it's wet, you can't see what you're walking in."

The sewer utility, Scottish Waters, finally stopped the leak on Monday (New Years Eve!!) but not soon enough for some. Dr Chris Mackel, 62, said he returned home from a holiday on December 27 to find the sewage still pouring past his front door: "I reported it twice to the council and then to Scottish Water to complain about the problem. So when I came back and saw it worse I contacted the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to see if they could help. ...But it's still bad and I'd say there's probably about three centimeters been gurgling up from the drains. It's an absolute health hazard." Everyone, including the Scots, deserve healthy communities.

Now the Spills of the Week:

This won't be a Christmas that Robert Shoff, age 77, will soon forget. Trying to unclog a septic line a this home, Shoff, somehow managed to slip into the septic tank and get stuck upside down! Shoff struggled to free himself for about an hour before his wife noticed his legs shaking in the air from a window inside their home. She immediately called the police and they promptly removed him from his smelly perch. Robert Shoff only suffered minor bruising and a damaged eardrum, apparently from screaming for help. I can't think of a worse Christmas, can you?

Now the Spills of the Week:

This week's sewage spill situation is looking pretty bad and with more rain in the forecast for much of the country it's only get worse. Since it we're heading into a banner week for sewage spills the Slog is going to post a first round of spills today. Remember:

Rain + Combined Sewer Systems = Sewage in your Water.

Spills Part 1 for the week of November 11:

A Not-So-Clean Head: Officials were notified of a sewer manhole overflow at Seldon Street and Harris Avenue on Kane'ohe Marine Corps Base Hawai'i. The blockage was due to grease, the Clean Water Board said. A total of 1,000 gallons overflowed from the sewer manhole and entered a retention basin.
- November 10, 2007: Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, HI

Surfers (SAS) tore it up again this week by interrupting the prestigious British Environment and Media Awards (BEMAS). Two surfers decked out in surf shorts, jackets and ties, presented the "Golden Loo (Toilet) Brush" for "services" against the environment to Alistair Baker, Communications Director of Northumbrian Water. Northumbrian plans to turn off the UV disinfection component of 6 sewage treatment facilities in Northeastern UK because it is now "outside the bathing (swimming) season." Turning the UV filters off would essentially allow partially treated sewage to flow freely into the oceans potentially exposing thousands of boaters, fisherman and tourists to toxic sewage. This is two weeks in a row for these guys! Keep up the good work.

Now the Spills of the Week: