I just wanted to make it known if not heard of this yet. A public meeting to discuss the scope of the study will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on September 21 at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. If you surf, fish, live or bathe in Rehoboth beach you might want to take interest in this. see link below.....and my rant. http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=12949085 On sept 21, there will be a hearing on the proposed Rehoboth Ocean outfall. They want to build a pipe to send the treated wastewater into the Rehoboth beach ocean. This is a monumental decision to be made as it will impact our ocean environment to unknown degrees. Rob Stickels (a former sussex co administrator and representative) said, "Rehoboth is a financial jewel for delaware". So why cut corners when the potential exists to ruin such a paramount place to visit? The delaware bay is a known migratory route for many recreational and commercial fish and provides critical spawning and feeding grounds and nursery areas for many species. Treated wastewater is known to contain large amounts of estrogen which disrupts fish development and actually causes feminization in fish. In other words, you cant reproduce without males= no more fish to catch/eat. Also, estrogen accumulates in fish fat and when you eat it.....guess what? Did someone say manboobs or worse now your kid has a man-gina. Although some Rehoboth residents would enjoy this, I think that stuff is weird. Its simple to think that this hormone will only affect fish. There is more information known about the moon than there is about the delaware bay. Scientists have only begun to scratch the surface of info about the delaware bay. So to go ahead and dump there is highly irresponsible. Horseshoe crab eggs are the food that supports a variety of common, threatened, and endangered birds like the Red Knot who travel 9000 miles one way only to land exclusively in the Delaware Bay. There is potential that estrogen could alter the reproduction of these crabs and several species of birds could go extinct. No farms no food- Land based application not only recharges groundwater but it helps protect against salt water intrusion. The more water we suck out of the ground, the more salt water intrudes into our groundwater. Sea level rise is happening now, it is proven. DNREC is putting a lot of time and energy to combat this problem and we have one way to possibly help. So to pump all this water into the ocean is a waste when it could recharge groundwater and fight intrusion at the same time. How much money will we spend on fresh water when all we get is salt water from our wells? Projected Costs- $50 million for land based application $35 million for the proposed ocean outflow a difference of $15 million. Rehoboth pays $30 million to replenish the beach with sand every 3 years. I witnessed this sand get removed from the beach firsthand by one single noreaster. If one storm costs $30 million, how can we justify saving a measly $15 million. How much is our fishery worth.....$a million, a billion, a trillion? Its only worth $15 million to the people that support the outfall pipe. Gerard Esposito, Tidewater utilities executive vice president said "costs of the options have not been fully vetted and the ocean outfall is more expensive than they think". Has anyone taken into consideration that they will die in the next 50 or less years and that their decision will last longer than they live? Will our children suffer the effects of the environmental ramifications and expenses. What is $15 million in 50 years from now? I heard they are printing money like its going out of style (which it actually is). We may not have the resources in the future to just say ok we were wrong. Just spend the measly money while we have it. Another problem with treated wastewater is the high concentrations of pharmaceuticals. Only recently has this been studied. Every medicine you injest leaves your body when you pee/defecate. This goes into the wastewater and is not reduced or dispersed in any way. How many different drugs are out there.......thousands? Most have side affects. Do you flush them down the drain when you dont need them anymore? One of them comes to mind....Seroquel, which is widely used and probably overprescribed like all medications. Seroquel has had some scrutiny in the past as some researchers think it may cause diabetes. Other studies have shown amplification of pharmaceuticals in fish species. When were all walking around with heart monitors, blood sugar monitors, and boners youll now have a good understanding why. Im not BS'ing see link below. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29877241/ Go to the meeting if you can to voice your opinion because I know of one PA resident with a second house in Rehoboth and he is going to the meeting in favor of the outfall pipe. I would assume there are many more like him that want to overlook the quality our beaches and water to save on property taxes on their beach house. Ill bet that the majority of people in favor of the outfall spend very little time actually in the water.....just my guess. Bottom line.....you dont crap where you eat (or swim). Something that ****sapiens have known about for many centuries but we seem to forget. I am a Rehoboth resident MF'ers dont piss in my cornflakes.
