Sinclair Inlet Sewage Spillage
On two separate occasions, the Navy has had over 80,000 gallons of sewage leaking into the Sinclair Inlet (Stanford, 2018; Kitsap Sun, 2019).
As you can see, Sinclair Inlet is not that far from the Gorst Watershed. As a potential risk, the access nutrients from the untreated sewage will initiate disturbances dependent upon the tidal exchange between the watershed and water body of the Puget Sound. The contaminated water could flow back via tide to the groundwater causing surface run-off to the Gorst Watershed. In turn, the now contaminated watershed outflows even more pollutant contaminates to the ocean and continues the cycle. Contaminated watersheds are likely to affect water quality including drinking which is a primary safety and health concern for the community. Toxic/non-toxic algal may presented with heavy nutrient load in the water, causing less sunlight to penetrate submerged plant species and decreases dissolved oxygen as well (Carey et al. 2013).
Photo Source: Google Maps
As you can see, Sinclair Inlet is not that far from the Gorst Watershed. As a potential risk, the access nutrients from the untreated sewage will initiate disturbances dependent upon the tidal exchange between the watershed and water body of the Puget Sound. The contaminated water could flow back via tide to the groundwater causing surface run-off to the Gorst Watershed. In turn, the now contaminated watershed outflows even more pollutant contaminates to the ocean and continues the cycle. Contaminated watersheds are likely to affect water quality including drinking which is a primary safety and health concern for the community. Toxic/non-toxic algal may presented with heavy nutrient load in the water, causing less sunlight to penetrate submerged plant species and decreases dissolved oxygen as well (Carey et al. 2013).
Photo Source: Google images
I thought a picture of the water cycle might help understand what I am taking about with potential tidal exchange between the watershed and the Puget Sound.
Sources:
Carey, R. O., Hochmuth, G. J., Martinez, C. J., Boyer, T. H., Dukes, M. D., Toor, G. S., & Cisar, J. L. (2013). Evaluating nutrient impacts in urban watersheds: Challenges and research opportunities. Environmental Pollution, 173, 138-149.
Kitsap Sun. (2019). Shipyard Sewage Spill Prompts Advisory for Sinclair Inlet. Retrieved from https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/03/05/shipyard-sewage-spill-prompts-advisory-sinclair-inlet/3068352002/
Stanford, J. (2018). 80,000 gallons of sewage spills into Puget Sound's Sinclair Inlet. Retrieved from https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/80000-gallons-of-sewage-spills-into-puget-sounds-sinclair-inlet/281-584271752
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