INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE
Delmarva is a network of many rural communities connected by a few central urban centers, like Salisbury, MD. As agriculture systems have become industrialized and family farms have been replaced with factory farms, zoning codes have not kept up. Poor land planning and urban sprawl have placed rural, suburban, and often underserved neighborhoods, within 100 feet of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). ACT has been leading an outreach effort with these communities, offering resources to connect them with legal guidance, public health experts, and organizers to help them improve local zoning codes, adopt Health Ordinances, and take the steps necessary to protect their families from harmful air emissions, water discharges, and heavy truck traffic.
Read more about ACT's work to protect our communities and waterways from industrial agriculture pollution here.
Read more about ACT's work to protect our communities and waterways from industrial agriculture pollution here.
OPERATION MEDICINE DROP
Disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in our waters presents a significant and preventable hazard to our waterways and the fish and crabs who live there, and raises concern about unknown impacts on human health. 'OPERATION MEDICINE DROP' is a campaign to raise public awareness about a simple way all of us can help keep our waterways and our fish healthier - by not flushing unused medications down the drain. Our sewage treatment plants can not remove pharmaceuticals before discharging treated effluent.
In Worcester County all residents are encouraged to periodically remove expired or unused medications from cabinets and drop them into secure 'drop boxes' located at:
WASTEWATER
Our watershed is impacted by discharges of nutrients, pathogens, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals from waste water. Our coastal waterways receive treated waste water from municipal sewage plants, which range from facilities like the ones in Ocean Pines and Berlin, MD that have been upgraded to greatly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus, to aging outdated plants that are not capable of adequately reducing nutrient loads to our waterways.
There are 3,925 septic units operating in the Coastal Bays watershed, with over 1100 known septic systems located within 1000 feet of these impaired waterways. Most of these septic units are not upgraded to Enhanced Nutrient Reduction systems. ACT advocates for stronger regulations and state assistance for upgrades. Your Assateague Coastkeeper periodically reviews the Discharge Permits of those facilities that are permitted by the State and submits Public Comments as needed.
There are 3,925 septic units operating in the Coastal Bays watershed, with over 1100 known septic systems located within 1000 feet of these impaired waterways. Most of these septic units are not upgraded to Enhanced Nutrient Reduction systems. ACT advocates for stronger regulations and state assistance for upgrades. Your Assateague Coastkeeper periodically reviews the Discharge Permits of those facilities that are permitted by the State and submits Public Comments as needed.
STORMWATER
Construction stormwater pollution can add sediment and other pollutants to our waterways, which is why state agencies in our watershed require all construction sites to be permitted and to control all sediment discharges to nearby creeks, streams and our bays.
We monitor construction 'sediment and erosion control' permits and when violations are found they are reported to the proper government agencies for additional inspection and enforcement.
We monitor construction 'sediment and erosion control' permits and when violations are found they are reported to the proper government agencies for additional inspection and enforcement.
