As worldwide demand for energy increases, prices at the pump and at the meter will continue to rise. Similarly, rapid development across the U.S. increases the demand placed on our aging and failing sewage and water infrastructure systems , our water and sewer bills are only going to increase. But recentinterest in alternative fuels and water supplies might produce solutions to both challenges.

Scientists and students from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, are working on a project/experiment aimed at producing bio-diesel from our sewage. ODU students are using the nutrient rich sewage to grow algae which conveniently love the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. They use the natural oils that the algae produce to make bio-diesel. Apparently it is more efficient than traditional agriculturally based bio-fuels.

On the other side of the country, Los Angeles is implementing a project to capture, treat and reuse its sewage as a renewable resource and water supply. The new program could process, treat and provide up to 70 million gallons of fresh water to the LA region a day. With so much sewage going around (we all make it) why not reuse it. Increased interest and research into alternative fuels and water supply ideas will help us cope with the very real challenges of running out of these important resources and global climate change. Great work ODU and LA.

And Now the Spills of the Week:

Lines Break, Creeks Not Safe: A sewer line break next to the Evitts Creek Pump Station off Messick Road resulted in a raw sewage overflow in the area. The Allegany County Health Department is advising the public to avoid water contact in the area, down to and including the confluence with the Potomac River and 100 yards downstream. The Cumberland Waste Water Treatment Plant staff discovered the break Thursday around 8 a.m. The sewage line services the Bedford Road, Baltimore Pike and Mason's Barn area.
- January 25, 2008: Cumberland Times News, Cumberland, MD

Excrement Escapes: County environmental health officials are advising the public to avoid water contact in Morro Bay and the vicinity of Morro Rock after 20,000 gallons of sewage spilled from the California Men's Colony prison Sunday. "The power failed and then our backup generator failed, so it was kind of like a double power failure" said Mike Minty, chief engineer at the prison's wastewater treatment plant. "It's all fixed now." The sewage spilled into Chorro Creek, which flows into Morro Bay. The prison has a history of sewage spills.
- January 28, 2008: San Luis Obispo Tribune -San Luis Obispo, CA

Creek Leaks: Crews have cleaned up a sewage spill in the northern part of New Hanover County. About 3,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled Sunday in the Wendover subdivision near the Bay Shore area. The sewage leaked into a ditch that feeds into Pages Creek. Authorities say the spill was caused by a piece of lumber clogging a sewer line.
- January 28, 2008: WECT TV6 - Wilmington, NC

Lowering Standards: The San Diego health department expanded beach closures on Monday to include the Coronado ocean shoreline due to sewage contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River. Closure signs were posted from the north end of Silver Strand State Beach at the Avenida del Sol station to Naval Air Station North Island by the Department of Environmental Health. County officials found that ocean currents moved contaminated sewage flows from the mouth of the Tijuana River north through Imperial Beach, then to Coronado. Imperial Beach shores were closed January 12. Silver Strand State Beach was closed January 24, while beaches near the border have remained closed since November 30. A general advisory remained in effect for the coastal waters off San Diego County because of recent heavy rains and urban runoff. County officials advise against water activities for 72 hours after rain. This persistant problem is a standard I wouldn't want to live with.
- January 28, 2008: San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego, CA

Hoggwash Bayou: The Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Prichard has notified the Mobile County Health Department that approximately 1,000 gallons of sanitary sewage overflowed Monday, January 28, from a manhole on Semler Avenue as the result of a grease blockage. The ultimate destination of the discharge was Hogg Bayou. The health department warns that recreating in sewage is bad and that you probably shouldn't eat anything that you catch in raw sewage, genius.
- January 29, 2008: WKRG News 5 - Mobile, AL

Sewage Downed Township: About 7,000 gallons of sewage
spilled into Big Pine Island Lake during a mechanical failure and went unnoticed for nearly two weeks. The spilled occurred at a sewer system serving homes around the lake. The overflow began January 15 and wasn't stopped until about 4 p.m. Monday, January 28.
- January 30, 2008: Grand Rapids Press: Grand Rapids, MI

Read All About It: The company that owns The Palm Beach Post has paid a $190,000 fine to the state Department of Environmental Protection related to last year's discovery of a pipeline that was directly discharging sewage into the Intracoastal Waterway for more than 19 years. . DEP spokesman Stephen Webster said the 19 years of pollutant discharge is the longest on record in the southeastern district, which covers Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. "It's something that we really haven't encountered," Webster said. It is also one of the longest continuous violations in the state, he said. A typical violation is seen and corrected "within about a day," he said. The fine of $190,000 is "on the high end" but is not the biggest ever.
- January 30, 2008: Palm Beach Post - Palm Beach, CA

Fried Walnut Creek: The Macon Water Authority cleaned up a 1,260-gallon sewage spill Monday in east Macon. The spill was caused by grease contaminating a ditch feeding into Walnut Creek, according to a spill report issued by the water authority. Fry it up!
- January 30, 2008: The Macon Telegraph, Macon, GA

Lake Spillsmere: More than 8,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled in an Annapolis community, and a local waterway, Anne Arundel County officials said. An 8-inch force main had broke in the 100 block of Mansion Road in Hillsmere, causing the spill. Some of the waste ran into Lake Hillsmere, said county spokesman Matt Diehl. The county Department of Health has issued an advisory and posted signs warning people to avoid direct contact because it's gross.
- January 31, 2008: The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD

Smellay LA: The city of Long Beach has shut down more than three miles of beachfront to swimmers and surfers because of a sewage spill into the Los Angeles River. Long Beach recreational water manager Nelson Kerr says between 65,000 and 90,000 gallons of raw sewage entered the river Tuesday night. The city closed the beaches as a precaution because the city is the end-point of the Los Angeles River before it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
- January 31, 2008: KFMB News 8, San Diego, CA