Northwest Dive Club

Anyone know the story on the Cove 2 shower? Per one of the local fishermen, we were told that due to chlorinated freshwater dumping to the saltwater, the EPA shut down the shower. Any truth on that one? Seems kind of strange with the superfund site nearby!

Definitely not the case. I was out there no more than 2 weeks ago and the shower was turned on and functioning perfectly. I will be out there this weekend as well and will report back once I get more info.

This was as of this morning. Couple weeks ago it was fine. This is a new change.

More water from washing cars with chlorinated water gets into there, than from that shower...

It was on Tuesday night.

Was definitely off, and seemingly DISCONNECTED this morning.

I will pursue this, give me a bit. It might take awhile to get an answer from public affairs.

RVbldr wrote:Anyone know the story on the Cove 2 shower? Per one of the local fishermen, we were told that due to chlorinated freshwater dumping to the saltwater, the EPA shut down the shower. Any truth on that one? Seems kind of strange with the superfund site nearby!

What is the "superfund site", I have not heard of that one yet?

Read 'em and quake.
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/nar1622.htm
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF ... s+&+Photos
And people eat seafood from Elliot and Commencement Bay!

For an extensive list:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2007/05/ ... fund-sites

Note-The shower is courtesy of Jack Connick (Optical Oceans) working with Kathy Whitman (Aquatics Manager, Parks) on the Cove 2 boundary system. This was an 'upgrade' specifically for divers.
There is a significant history many folks no longer know about when the now ubiquitous Water Taxi first move in to Cove 2 and shut it down for the dive community. It took a lot of work to open it back up and continued work to keep it functional and safe.

I called Carol Baker-she is Dist. Maint. Super for Parks. The cited Federal clean water act does not allow chlorinated water to be discharged directly into the Sound as trivial as this amount is. It's being mandated across all of Parks activities where this could be happening.
She 'gets it' but Parks has been cited by the Feds and this is above her head. Kathy Whitman is also aware of it. They are trying to find a solution that allows the shower to function and still follow the law.
I've given her my name and asked if there is someone else 'higher up' to try to engage for this problem.

I suppose that means the showers at Redondo are doomed, as well?

The solution is simple ... have the shower drain into a pipe that runs into the nearby sewer system. The water will then not drain directly into Puget Sound ... it will be mixed with the 14 million gallons of polluted stormwater runoff and 9 million pounds of dog poop that gets dumped directly into Puget Sound every year.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Bob-don't you work for water treatment or some such?

fmerkel wrote:Bob-don't you work for water treatment or some such?

City of Tacoma, Environmental Services ... wastewater treatment

Unlike Seattle, our stormwater facilities are separate from wastewater

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Does that mean Tacoma is (gasp) ahead of Seattle in water treatment!?

Just talked to Kathy Whitman (Parks). She reinforced that this mandate came from the Feds. Parks also tried to argue that it didn't make a lot of sense but was shut down. Seems there is no compromise on this issue.The man who is potentially responsible for coming up with a workable solution is on administrative sick leave right now, so she does not anticipate being able to address this for a couple weeks at least.

FWIW, this mandate also applies to things like fireman opening hydrants that drain directly into storm water, and kiddie pools when they change the water. This is a pretty trivial amount of water as I see it. The fireman have to lay down anti-chlorination tablets in the water path (they get some slack for being an emergency service). The kiddie pools have to be shut down, treated for chlorine, then drained. There are other areas (pressure washing, etc.) that are needing to be addressed over this issue.

Fritz

Grateful Diver wrote:The solution is simple ... have the shower drain into a pipe that runs into the nearby sewer system. The water will then not drain directly into Puget Sound ... it will be mixed with the 14 million gallons of polluted stormwater runoff and 9 million pounds of dog poop that gets dumped directly into Puget Sound every year.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I, for one, would feel a lot better about doing it this way. But then I'm sooooooo green.

I for one feel a lot better bringing my own rinse water in a couple gallon jugs ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Grateful Diver wrote:I for one feel a lot better bringing my own rinse water in a couple gallon jugs ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

As long as you aren't standing near the water when you rinse....

Need to let it hit the parking lot and wash down all the oils and rubber before finding it's way into C2. Jeeze... Maybe those showers are the root cause for the sunstar die-off. (no, I'm not serious!)

Just dont pee in the shower

dwashbur wrote:I suppose that means the showers at Redondo are doomed, as well?

And the fresh water rinse stations for boats/engines at launch ramps? All that water seems to head directly to the sound as well. For that matter, all fresh water faucets at any of our local docks and marinas, right? Lots of boats moored in Puget Sound that are washed regularly with fresh (chlorinated, I'm guessing) water.

fmerkel wrote:
Just talked to Kathy Whitman (Parks). She reinforced that this mandate came from the Feds. Parks also tried to argue that it didn't make a lot of sense but was shut down. Seems there is no compromise on this issue.The man who is potentially responsible for coming up with a workable solution is on administrative sick leave right now, so she does not anticipate being able to address this for a couple weeks at least.

Fritz

As opposed to me pinging Cathy or Kathy, I wonder if you can get the name of the federal representative that is mandating these "useful" changes to our water quality? Seems like we could also make our opinion heard to his or her management.

I requested that info. If I find out I'll let folks know.

fmerkel wrote:Just talked to Kathy Whitman (Parks). She reinforced that this mandate came from the Feds. Parks also tried to argue that it didn't make a lot of sense but was shut down.

Fritz

[sarcasm]I am feeling so safe and secure knowing that our omniscient governmental overlords are watching out for us since they so obviously know what is best and we are all brainless idiots.[/sarcasm]

Back to my tinfoil hat...

Just don't mention any marina and water use by boat owners. I would hate not being able to hose down my boat after a day on the water. I also wonder how the park services or a marina will wash bird crap off the docks?