Surfers We Need Your Help!!!!!!

what bugs me the most is that Surfrider is making it seem that untreated waste is what is getting dumped.

 

if the original post is correct then the outfall would be nearly two miles out.

in many southern states there is a water main running through town dedicated to irrigation that is reclaimed water i.e. treated sewage and deemed suitable for residential irrigation applications - yes the sprinklers that all the kids play in during the summer is treated sewage, that is why you rarely hear of watering restrictions during drought conditions for most florida towns. I doubt such applications would be allowed if it was loaded with dangerous bacteria etc.

as for nutrient loading - i don't know but would imagine the ocean is probably better equipped for handling that than the bay since it is a much larger ecosystem.

anyone know what the plan is to do with what they remove from the sewage to make it safe for discharge ?

 

would like to clarify

I am a member of the Delaware Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and would like to clarify that the Surfrider Foundation is not saying that it is untreated waste. If you are referring to the image of the lady on the toilet, it is merely to convey a striking message to grab people's attention and get the word out that there ARE alternatives out there that are better than just placing a pipe in the ocean for TREATED effluent.

There are studies out there that show even pumping treated waste into a body of water as large as the ocean, can still have an adverse effect. I am still learning about all of the research as well ( and there is a lot to be found on the web). One report that was discovered by a member can be found here: http://surfrider.org/delaware/07-chlorophyll.html Here is another helpful link that is of interest. http://www.arcatamarshfriends.org/

I agree with another post on here that the S. Bethany and OC pipes should also be addressed. The ocean and all waterways are everyone's and we should all be aware of what is being done to them. I personally feel that Surfrider Foundation is a good organization that HELPS bring this issues to light.

There are many different pros and cons out there for all the sides and it is a tough decision to make. I feel that in a World and Nation where we are trying to find better alternatives....why give up so fast in our own towns and just take the easy way out?

 

you are using misleading advertising to prompt people to show up. Pretty shady if you ask me.

 

Clarification 2

The Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation has never stated that untreated sewage was going to be intentionally pump into the ocean.

However, once ocean outfall pipes are in place there are no guarantees that there is will never be a failure in the system or overages which exceed system capacity and which will allow raw or partially treated sewage to flow directly into the ocean. This scenario has happened in the past with ocean outfall.

The residents/homeowners of Rehoboth Beach are primarily concerned about the cost of the two proposals and the increases to their utility bill as well as giving up sole control over their sewage treatment to Sussex County.

However, If a viable alternative to ocean outfall exists Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter feels that would be a better choice given the potential to reuse treated wastewater and not simply pump it into the ocean. Also I strongly believe that the main reason all of the Rehoboth Beach residents live there and own homes there IS because of the proximity to the ocean itself. Why besides the obvious money aspect would any resident want to pressure the Town Officers into voting for a project that would have the potential to endanger the ocean ecosystem were they live and their families who enjoy vacationing in it?

Again, any outfall or land based application will be treated wastewater and anyone who enjoys the ocean and beaches should seriously consider helping protect that environment which gives them so much in return.

Surfrider Foundation and the Delaware Chapter are committed "to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches, for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education."

If you don't believe this you are either uninformed, misinformed or simply don't care.

 

Im not a part of surfrider, I dont live any where near any chapters. Wish i was. Sorry to piss people off.

 

Sell it to McDonald's to convert into Grade D beef.

 

hahaha, nice! Check this out! http://www.arcatamarshfriends.org/marsh.php
In California, they use the solid waste for compost and the city uses it on their landscaping, etc. Now that's pretty awesome!
REUSE.

 

I'm glad to see that people are at least questioning this and debating it instead of just accepting the "enviro-emergency" that some may be trying to portray. I think you need to be informed to have a solid opinion, regardless of which side you fall on. As far as which is better, I'm sure there are land ecosystems that a land based solution could affect as well. I think Surfrider sometimes does themselves a disservice by jumping on the ocean eco side of every issue without actually comparing the impacts on other aspects of life (offshore drilling is a good example of this). The bottom line is, this stuff has to go somewhere unless someone knows how to stop producing it. I obviously don't as my post here shows.

 

Link?

Is there a link to a website with more information on this?

 

Wow!! Talk about a level headed reply. Not saying this isn't a good cause but too many times Surfrider cries 'the sky is falling' in order to pump up representation at meetings or their coffers. An unfortunate side affect of this is that when they do it too many times, people stop listening.

 

Lets not question that Surfrider is a great service to us... And, the fact that they are investigating this is good. But, like others have said, we need all the data, and both sides of the story to form opinions ourselves.

 

I haven't been to a Surfrider meeting in a few months now because I have to work on Saturday now but let me tell you when I went to my first meeting I was blown away of how much knowlege they had and how aggresive they really are.Although you may not agree on everything they do I believe they do have good intentions.Im glad that they are there.We all love to surf so check out your chapters and get involved.At least go to 1 meeting and if its not for you at least you tried.

 

If you want credibility then stop posting misleading comments and images about the issue. had you posted the FACTS and links so people can research, the response probably been better. those of us that have been our for awhile have seen enough of surfriders hysteria to be cautious but still probably would have at least done some research.

I said it before...the more you cry the sky is falling, the less people will listen.

 

Good point. the Delaware chapter successfully got the City of Rehoboth to designate a surfing beach (back when it was breaking), fought a long battle to preserve another surf break that was threatened, several each clean-ups each year, purchased signs urging people to stop trampling sand dunes where it was really getting out of control and doing damage, volunteer water testing and reporting...the list goes on and on.

They have been there when we needed them on a lot of issues.

 

Here is what Suzanne Thurman, Executive Director of the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institue in Lewes, has to say:

The Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute would like to comment on the proposal to install an outfall pipe off of Rehoboth Beach as a means of waste water management. As the organization responsible for the welfare of marine mammals and sea turtles throughout our state, we are particularly concerned about the negative impact an outfall pipe could have on the health of our oceans, the species who reside there, and on our citizens.

Many endangered marine species occur along our coast, and in our bays and inland waterways. Delaware waters serve as an important foraging ground and migratory pathway for whales, dolphins, seals, manatees and sea turtles, all of which are protected species under Federal law. These animals face perils of many origins including environmental toxins resulting from waste water treatment, marine debris, oil spills, boat strike, fisheries interactions, and more.

As much as we may enjoy communing and recreating with the ocean, marine species must rely on them for every aspect of their existence. The waters in which they live,
and the food that they eat show high levels of environmental toxins, human in origin. Toxicological studies of dolphins in the last few years are beginning to correlate bioaccumulations of toxins and pharmaceuticals with exposure to marine pollution (man-made) and harmful algal blooms, specifically brevetoxins.

Recent and ongoing studies of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin populations provide evidence linking environmental toxins found in the tissues of these animals, such as PCBs, mercury, DDT and organic compounds such as water repellants (PFCs) and flame retardants (PBCEs), to infections, cancers, lymphatic disorders, and immune system suppressions. Additionally, dolphins exposed to antibiotics in coastal waters from municipal outfall pipes (pharmaceuticals are unable to be broken down by traditional wastewater facilities) are growing new strains of problematic bacteria. A study by the National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research at Fort Johnson, South Carolina found antibiotic-resistant bacteria near waste water treatment plants. Researchers at Fort Johnson found evidence that local dolphin populations contained this bacteria. This syndrome will impact their ability to respond to veterinary treatment if needed, and may suppress their immune system, thus opening wild populations of marine mammals to a myriad of disease.

Marine mammals serve as important barometers for the health of our oceans, acting as sentinels for the presence of toxins that may also impact human swimmers and beachgoers. In localities where both dolphins and human diseases have been contrasted and compared i.e. in North America (Alaska, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, Gulf Coast, Florida and the St. Lawrence Seaway) evidence has preliminarily linked fish source contamination and increased risk of human myeloma. Studies are continuing to evaluate the relationships of the health of the marine environments, genetic predispositions and calculations for risks of developing myelomas for dolphins and humans alike.

For you, the leaders and planners for the community of Rehoboth Beach, it must certainly be a difficult task to make decisions that are in the best interest of all facets of the community. We live in a thriving community that sources it’s livelihood from the ocean, whether it be through tourism, commerce, real estate, fishing, or personal enjoyment. Many of us choose to make our lives here, out of our affinity for our beautiful coast. As a community that relies so heavily on the enduring presence of these great ecosystems, it is imperative that we make decisions with an eye to the future, and identify ocean health as an essential factor in all of our futures. Difficult choices must be made, and while none seem to be the perfect answer, we hope that our community leaders show the prudence to act as good stewards of our coastal areas by making decisions that help us to conserve and preserve our precious resources, and our way of life.



Sincerely,
Suzanne Thurman
Executive Director
Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute
Lewes, DE

 

Here's another article in the Cape Gazette regarding the issue to keep all informed.
http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/200911/reho-sewer13.html

another great link is www.arcatamarshfriends.org
It's an example that there are other alternatives out there.

thank you.

 

Fyi

For all those dreading the pending sewerage outfall pipe proposed for Rehoboth: Ocean City's goes out 2 miles right at 46th street and has been pumping effluent out that way for the past 20 years at least. I guess that's why so many people surf 46th street. How do I know this? Every so often divers can be seen going down the manhole cover at the end of the street. Their job is to inspect the continuity of the pipe to insure no near-shore leakages.

And more food for thought. . . 9000 feet is just shy of 2 miles, but then it is Delaware. Did you ever give any thought to the fact that Philly is a whopper of a city and it sits just upstream from Rehoboth, eh? Where does their effluent go? Not to mention what DuPont is doing. Which begs the question, why did they name it Delaware instead of "DuPont?"

I'd much rather risk Maryland, thank you very much.

 

That is a FACT yes, that there are currently pipes all over the world....but why pour salt on the wound if we have the technology and the brains to start solving the problems on town at a time? If everyone continues to have the attitude of, "well, it's happening over there...so why not do it here?" then we will continue to ruin our environment. The ocean and all waterways belongs to everyone, and we should all think about that long and hard. You can't just always have the attitude that "it's not in my backyard" when it comes to water, because in the end, IT REALLY IS in your backyard.