1 Billion gallons of sewage: That is how much sewage was dumped into U.S. waters by cruise ships alone in 2013. That doesn't even include the discharge from the tens of thousands of other cargo ships and oil tankers visiting our ports and it does not include the dumping of sewage into international waterways.
On April 30, 2014, the US EPA was sued in Federal Court by the Friends of the Earth who are seeking better regulations regarding the dumping of raw sewage, and lightly treated sewage, from cruise ships into our oceans and waterways. Read the Complaint.
Oceana noted that lax state and federal laws allow cruise ships to dump untreated sewage from toilets once the ships are three miles from shore.
Within three miles, cruise ships can dump sewage from toilets that has been treated by marine sanitation devices, which have been shown to be inadequate. In addition, sewage from sinks and showers can be dumped without treatment.
The number and size of ships in U.S. waters continues to rapidly expand while federal standards governing their sewage discharges remain more than 35 years out of date. Cruise ships with populations the size of small towns ply the waters off our coasts and massive cargo ships carrying goods to our ports produce and then dump large amounts of partially treated sewage and other wastes into our oceans. This waste pollutes our beaches, contaminates our coral reefs, and destroys our valuable marine ecology. Sewage contamination also puts swimmers at elevated risk of illness and can make seafood caught by coastal fishermen unsafe to eat. Additionally, discharges from ships disrupt coastal economies. In 2012, ship sewage contributed to elevated levels of fecal coliform that led to more than 31,000 days of beach advisories and closings. Marcie Keever, Oceans and vessels program director at Friends of the Earth, said “Sewage-contaminated waters not only harm sea life, but also harm people who use these waters. These ship sewage discharges contribute to the risk of serious, potentially life-threatening health effects such as gastrointestinal illnesses, hepatitis, ear nose and throat illnesses, vomiting, and respiratory diseases. The EPA reported in 2000 that its ship sewage treatment standards were out of date and needed an update. After 38 years, it is time for EPA to act.” U.S. environmental laws have not kept pace with growth of the industry. In certain regions, including New England and California, ship sewage discharges close to shore have been banned. However, the Northwest, the Gulf of Mexico and almost the entire Southeast remain unprotected from ship sewage. New laws and standards are urgently needed to protect all of our ocean waters. -
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Sewage releases near shellfish beds can be particularly dangerous to public health. When eaten raw or undercooked, contaminated shellfish can pose considerable health risks to humans who consume them. Coral reefs are also vulnerable to harm by sewage discharges from marine vessels. Pathogens from sewage can cause disease and scarring in many coral species. Nutrients from sewage, like nitrogen and phosphorus, promote excessive algal growth, which consumes oxygen in the water and can smother reefs and the marine ecosystems they support.
Many people enjoy a Caribbean or Alaskan cruise. For those who are thinking of taking a cruise there is a report card on all of the cruise lines that is rated A-F, prepared by Friends of the Earth. In summary, Disney, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Cunard, and Seabourn Cruise Line have all installed advanced sewage treatment systems in a majority of their ships, while Carnival, Silversea, Costa, and Crystal Cruises all received failing grades.
wiseGeek describe Marine Sanitation Device or MSD that some ships use to treat and hold waste water. Oceana reports that the MSD does not work well with cruise lines, but is targeted more towards smaller boats and ships.
A Marine Sanitation Devices, or MSD, is a piece of equipment that is used to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into open water. In many cases, the Marine Sanitation Device is part of the personal sanitary equipment that is found on any type of marine vessel. Yachts, sailboats, submarines, pleasure ships, and military seagoing vessels will all carry some type of Marine Sanitation Device.
There are varying degrees of devices that are utilized by different crafts. The most basic is known as a Type I Marine Sanitation Device. Essentially, the system uses chemicals to break down the sewage and reduce the bacterial count to a point below 1,000 per 100 milliliters. This means there will be no solid waste discharged from the vessel in question.
A Type II Marine Sanitation Device provides all the benefit of a Type I model, but will break down the raw sewage to a greater degree. This means that the bacteria count is much lower with a Type II device. Vessel discharges that result from the use of a Type II Marine Sanitation Device usually have a bacteria count that is under 200 per 100 milliliters.
A Type III Marine Sanitation Device does not involve a vessel discharge while in open water. Instead, this solution involves a holding tank where raw vessel sewage is treated and retained until the waste can be pumped out of the holding tank and directly into a sewage system operated on land.