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

With no end to the drought facing the Southeast, metropolitan areas are looking to their wastewater for answers. Wastewater reuse in South Florida could put an end to Miami's irresponsible practice of dumping 300 million gallons of partially treated sewage a day the city currently pumps into the ocean. After twenty years of dumping sewage a couple of miles off shore, where fisherman seek their livelihoods and scuba divers enjoy some of the best diving the east coast has to offer, Florida finally sees the value in preserving the resource it's been throwing away. According to the Associated Press and the Herald Tribune, the Florida Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation unanimously passed SB 1302, which mandates a stop to the ocean dumping by 2013, stricter sewage treatment guidelines by 2018 and the elimination of all dumping by 2025. Let's hope that the federal government takes notice and takes similar measures to conserve and protect our country's freshwater resources.

And now the Spills of the Week:

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:

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:

When I think of tourist attractions I think of famed Seneca Rocks in West Virginia, or the famous Luray Caverns in central Virginia. But in Israel, tourists are looking at new and revolutionary sewage treatment facilities. In the Golan Heights, several locations are planning to offer tour guides and observation areas. These new tourist destinations will highlight the new environmentally friendly treatment facilities and reinforce the need to utilize more sustainable water use. Not only will the tours focus on sewage and water issues, it also includes a tour of a new Biogas production facility where manure from local farms is used to produce gas that will be used to create electricity. More innovation in the disposal, treatment and use of our waste is necessary to tackle the growing strains on our treatment facilities and freshwater scarcity. By bringing the public into the know, the Golan Heights is empowering its citizens, because everyone has a right, and an obligation, to know what happens to our waste.

And Now the Spills of the Week:

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):

San Francisco has had a rough week, with nearly six million gallons of sewage seeping in the bay. But it's been a big week all over the country. San Diego has kept it real by dumping more than 100,000 gallons onto its beaches. Florida seems to want to keep up with similar numbers into the heavily used St. Johns River. And in the DC suburbs, a screw up in Prince George's County dumped nearly five and a half million gallons of raw sewage into a major Potomac River (and Chesapeake Bay) tributary (see below). With all of the rain in the Midwest, I'm not even going to speculate what a troubled week it has been. It's weeks like this that reinforce our "Right to Know" what's in our streams, rivers and lakes. Contact your local and federal legislators and tell them you want them to Act for a Healthy Rivers by passing the Sewage Overflow Community Right ot Know Act.

And now the Spills of the Week: