Ocean Dumping From Afar
There are human and environmental health dangers associated with the wholesale, unchallenged, uncontrolled, unmonitored dumping of poorly processed sewage sludge on our lands, whether they be forest, farm or range lands, and it all flows to the sea.
The attached article provides an interesting historic perspective on why we got to where we are today, with regard to the land disposal of sewage sludge, and where we should be, with some informative European models.
Sewage Sludge Dumping: Causing A Decrease In Ocean Biodiversity, Full Spectrum Biology, June 12, 2013, Population Ecology and Biological Diversity at the University of Oregon
http://fullspectrumbiology.blogspot.com/2013/06/sewage-sludge-dumping-causing-decrease.html
One of the greatest challenges we face is how to achieve the total abolition of Land-Disposed Sewage Sludge, also known as Open Dumping of Sewage Sludge, because resistance by the commercial/political complex surrounding tax-based business enterprises formed to service this endless need for disposal have sway over the needs and will of the people; Land-Disposal of Sewage Sludge is not consistent with community values, and that is where we must begin.
When we weigh the value of human health and life against the dollars to be gleaned from governments and the public by exposing us to toxic sewage sludge, the business of waste management, including sewage sludge management will always win; well, maybe not.
All waters lead to the sea, or so they say, and they are right. Toxic wastes dumped on the land surface for supposed agricultural benefit or for pure disposal ambitions all leach and flow to ground and surface waters on their way to the sea, by one track or another, in fast or slow time. No matter how far inland or upland you elect to dispose of toxic wastes, including toxic wastes such as sewage sludge, the sea awaits, always in pain.
While a few life forms survive, and actually thrive, in toxic sewage sludge, others cannot. The Bird's Nest Fungus is sludge toxin tolerant.
Algae bloom is the phosphorus-rich sludge leachates.
In the intense rains of the Pacific Northwest, there is lots of water to carry the sewage sludge leachates and runoff on any incline, or not, to percolate into the ground, or into surface waters.
The waters flow, drain and run
through the forests until they drain to ground, or into wetlands, streams and rivers.
The standing waters become gas generators, bubbles and all.
As the sludge leachate and runoff waters sink into the ground in some places, polygons form in the draining waters.
Something very toxic leaches out of this sewage sludge material, and it kills most insects that simply touch it.
What is in this toxic sewage sludge that leaches-out and kills things? Anyone for a hike in the Snoqualmie Forest? Or a swim in Puget Sound? Or the Pacific Ocean? We're on it.
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