Cruises Big Polluters

Taking a cruise may not seem so glamorous after realizing how much wastewater is produced by each ship. According to a recent article, "Tide Rises Against Cruise Industry Pollution":

In a week, a large ship (carrying 3,000 or more) can generate 210,000 gallons of sewage, also known as black water. An additional 1 million gallons a week of so-called gray water — wastewater from laundries, sinks and showers — can also be produced, plus quantities of hazardous waste, solid waste and oily bilge water.

So where does all of this waste water go?  That’s the big controversy.

Ships may discharge treated sewage within three nautical miles of shore; outside that boundary, they can dump raw sewage. Gray water is not considered sewage and can be disposed of anywhere.

Continue reading the Washington Post article via Sun-Sentinel