WHY IS CONTROLLING VESSEL SEWAGE IMPORTANT?
• Health: When beaches are closed, it is often due to sewage contamination. Swimming and wading in waters with inadequately treated sewage increases the likelihood of contracting diseases, such as infectious hepatitis, diarrhea, bacillary dysentery, skin rashes, typhoid, and cholera. • Food: Sewage contamination can contaminate shellfish beds. Since oysters and clams are filter feeders, bacteria and viruses that contaminate shellfish can be passed on to consumers who often eat these foods raw. • Environment: Sewage contains large concentrations of nitrogen which is a source of food for algae. Excess algal growth can starve an aquatic ecosystem of oxygen thereby stressing fish, and in extreme cases causing fish kills. Excess algal growth can also smother and kill coral reefs and lead to a loss of biodiversity.
