The Federal Clean Water Act requires industrial facilities, including boatyards, to employ low-technology, cost-effective “non-structural” techniques to control pollution discharges. The question is, who’s minding the store? Too late to stop, we can at least minimize the damage by keeping their feet to the fire with preventative maintenance, spill response plans and safe hazardous material and a few waste handling practices:

Pressure washing and sanding should occur in designated and contained areas away from water, so that any pollutants released will not run off of the site.

Vacuum sanders also help control the spread of pollution and allow for appropriate disposal of the resulting dust.

Hard-surface work areas should be regularly vacuumed to avoid tracking pollutants throughout the site.

Outside work should not occur during high winds or rain that increase the chance of spreading pollution to nearby waterways.

Wastewater from boatyards should be kept separate from storm water runoff, so that contaminated wastewater is not discharged to storm drains or nearby creeks. Wastewater should be recycled or discharged to a sanitary sewer, where it will be appropriately treated at the Cape Charles wastewater treatment plant.

Structural changes, such as installing an advanced filtration system, may also be required depending on how bad they will be at controlling pollution discharges.

And you thought a little brown water being discharged into the harbor was a disaster? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Thank you Mr. Baldwin for a wonderful day and “my” first boat ride.

Alice LaCroix
Manager
Shore Stay Suites