[lee]

http://komonews.com/news/local/major-emergency-dumps-millions-of-gallons-of-raw-sewage-into-puget-sound

[MesiJezi]

Imagine if this were a private business--they would be crucified by the media and activists and slapped with every fine and penalty that could possible apply. Instead, it's a government organization and there will be no consequences.

[Schroder]

The article doesn't say there will be no consequences. Municipal treatment plants are fined all the time.

[iron]

[InFlight]

We have Vancouver dumping all it's raw sewage into the sound every day. One malfunctioning Seattle Sewer plant for one day is a proverbial drop in the bucket of poo compared to our neighbors up north.

[MesiJezi]

[AlpineRose]

I thought it was Victoria not Vancouver dumping the raw sewage. Get yer poo facts straight.

[joker]

Are there still any storm drains tied into the wastewater system?

[Foist]

The following is the official scientific opinion of my wife who is a public health scientist who studies pollution: "Gross."

[Geography Nerd]

When I heard about this I thought it was just a "normal" release. Unfortunately in much of the Northwest the storm water and sewer systems are combined so when there's heavy rains the treatment system gets overwhelmed and sewer has to be diverted straight to the Sound. The City of Seattle has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to upgrade infrastructure to prevent "combined sewer overflows"...

[iron]

seattle is working on a CSO overflow project right. design is underway and construction will begin soon (along ship canal). there are others planned. there's also, i believe, a federal mandate to prevent these kinds of situations whereby the managing authority is penalized each time it happens. http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/Projects/ShipCanalWaterQuality/

[Tom_Sjolseth]

[Foist]

[captain jack]

[MyFootHurts]

In Seattle, feces is considered a delicacy.