Fecal Bacteria Unsafe Levels On 33% of Beaches

[TigerPaws]

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/main...6H_amoYuO8lZEA

There is an excellent map about 1/2 way into the article which shows the problem around the US and Puerto Rico. From my personal experience most of the islands throughout the Caribbean with any notable population has this problem. Waste, sewage and related pollution is a major problem and while I do my best to avoid such areas it is not always possible.

SeaQuest OE II

[Cheechako]

No doubt about it. Most enclosed harbors are pretty bad in the Caribe. Much of the US problem seems to be the actual sewage plants any more. Or at least one is left with that indication.

[TigerPaws]

Unfortunately poor sewage treatment and control throughout the Caribbean is the norm, the islands are usually poor with the resorts ruling the roost.

Corruption is beyond rampant.

[StuM]

Note the repeated use of "potentially dangerous". Traveling to the beach in the first place is also "potentially dangerous". Probably more so



How much does this reflect "nanny state"ism rather than actual danger?

[sdowney717]

Whatever you do, dont pump overboard waste and it wont make any difference whether you do or dont to water quality. Just let the cities and towns do that because they do and they can. If they find your doing it, you will get a big fine. Someone has to get the blame, so why not you boaters.

[TigerPaws]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

Whatever you do, dont pump overboard waste and it wont make any difference whether you do or dont to water quality. Just let the cities and towns do that because they do and they can. If they find your doing it, you will get a big fine. Someone has to get the blame, so why not you boaters.

Pumping overboard in port is beyond gross, I have never seen a serious cruiser do so.

I have seen far too may Europeans on self charter boats taking a dump over the transom or off the swim platform, men and women. I have seen all sorts of dumping by these people. I avoid their hangouts because they are nasty, loud, drunk and gross. The charter companies are just as much to blame because of the extra fees for pump-out and cleaning when the boat is returned.


SeaQuest OE II

[Montanan]

'Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..."

Eewwww!

https://gph.is/2hrLDDT

[WSMFP]

Tampa Bay:


https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ne...st--petersburg


St. Petersburg spilled nearly 200 million gallons of raw or partially treated sewage in Tampa Bay in 2015 and 2016.

[TigerPaws]

Originally Posted by WSMFP

Tampa Bay:


https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ne...st--petersburg


St. Petersburg spilled nearly 200 million gallons of raw or partially treated sewage in Tampa Bay in 2015 and 2016.

And people wonder where the flesh eating bacteria is coming from.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by TigerPaws

And people wonder where the flesh eating bacteria is coming from.

And why red tide is a problem.

[Scout 30]

Birds are actually the main cause of high fecal bacteria counts on beaches.

[Montanan]

FYI.

Maine beaches appear to be comparatively clean versus Texass beaches.

Report by CBS Austin, Wednesday, July 24th 2019

More than 4 out of 5 Texas beaches had unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in the water, according to new research.

A study released by Environment Texas found that 85% of the state's beaches had water pollution levels in 2018 that could put swimmers at risk of becoming sick.

Human contact with the contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness as well as respiratory disease, ear and eye infections, and skin rash.

The worst levels were found at Cole Park - Site 3 in Corpus Christi. Out of 64 days samples were taken, 52 of those days were deemed "unsafe."

In Chambers County, near Houston, the average beach was potentially unsafe for swimming on 44% of the days that sampling took place, a higher percentage than any other county in the state.

To read the full report, click here. https://environmenttexas.org/feature/ame/safe-swimming

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by TigerPaws

Pumping overboard in port is beyond gross, I have never seen a serious cruiser do so.

I have seen far too may Europeans on self charter boats taking a dump over the transom or off the swim platform, men and women. I have seen all sorts of dumping by these people. I avoid their hangouts because they are nasty, loud, drunk and gross. The charter companies are just as much to blame because of the extra fees for pump-out and cleaning when the boat is returned.


SeaQuest OE II

Then its best for you to avoid anchoring anywhere near us.

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by WSMFP

Tampa Bay:


https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ne...st--petersburg


St. Petersburg spilled nearly 200 million gallons of raw or partially treated sewage in Tampa Bay in 2015 and 2016.

Ft.Lauderdale had a major sewage leak that found its way into the New River, just about a year ago.

Then there are the offshore sewage "bubblers" from the water treatment plant that supposedly has pretreated water dumping into the ocean...Ive lived in South Florida since 1955, but wont go near the beach.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by StuM

... How much does this reflect "nanny state"ism rather than actual danger?

Anyone who supports rules and regulations, that make products safer or improve public health, can expect to come under attack from critics, arguing they’re restricting freedom and turning the country into a “nanny state”. The threat to freedom, posed by an emergent nanny state, is a powerful, though superficial, piece of rhetoric.
However, as a description of reality it doesn’t quite add up.
Of course, as a citizen you can’t always do what you want; you need to compromise with your neighbours.
For instance:
In the nineteenth century, sewage systems were installed, by the democratic government of the UK, to protect people’s health; people were no longer free to allow raw sewerage to seep into their neighbours’ gardens, but was that a freedom worth having?
Well, some thought it important. In response to Edwin Chadwick’s Public Health Act*, the Times thundered:
“... We prefer to take our chance with cholera and the rest than be bullied into health. There is nothing a man hates so much as being cleansed against his will, or having his floors swept, his walls whitewashed, his pet dung heaps cleared away ...”

Effective sewage treatment would bring significant costs to municipalities, resulting in increased taxes. Notwithstanding, legislating requirements for such, might have considerable economic and public health benefits.
Nany-stateism, or just prudent public policy?


* ➥ https://www.parliament.uk/about/livi...ic-health-act/

“The 1848 Public Health Act and its relevance to improving public health in England now” ~ by Kenneth Calman
➥ https://www.bmj.com/content/317/7158/596