I was getting into my boat at the put-in the other day and I caught the deep, sharp and unmistakable smell of sewage. This is not typcally the case for the section of river I run, however lately it's become all too common a scene, especially in the spring. Here in the mid-Atlantic, we've been getting some much needed precipitation and I'm not complaining about the rain one bit. Afterall, it's spring rain that help the season come into its own and helps recharge our groundwater sources. But with the good comes the bad. Spring rains wash the wintry litter of salt, sand, cinder and auto residues from our roads and other paved surfaces into sewer systems that empty into our rivers and streams, and stormwater is rarely treated. 

Surfrider Foundation - Portland Chapter raised awareness of local and national water quality issues with a paddle out for clean water across the Willamette River in downtown Portland on September 8th, 2007.

When I paddle on the Potomac River in the DC area, I often see things floating in the water. Usually, it's just driftwood or river grass, but I often check just to make sure.

Why? Because according to a recent lawsuit, DC's Water and Sewer Authority discharges about 2 billion gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and their tributaries each year.

That's a lot of sewage. So when I see a "floater," I want to know what it is.