CNN Joins Us In One of Our Submarines. Reports On Hollywood Sewage Outfall
CNN reporter, Boris Sanchez, recently came diving with GlobalSubDive in one of our Triton submarines and we visited the Hollywood Sewage Outfall, so he might see with his own eyes the visceral image of the millions of gallons of effluent that are pumped out directly into the ocean just a few miles off the beautiful beaches filled with tourists and local bathers alike.
There are 6 such sewage outfalls in Florida. The Hollywood Sewage Outfall alone has been known to pump out upwards 47.5 millions of gallons of treated sewage out into the ocean a day.
The sewage outfall effluents being pumped out contain nitrogen, phosphorous and other chemicals that act like steroids for the reefs number one natural enemy, algae. The algae blooms up and covers the entire ocean floor and corals and strangles the corals.
Florida used to have considerable and amazing coral reefs, but it has been reported that more than 90% of these reefs simply are no more as increased acidity, pollutants, dredging, global warming and other human impacts have killed them off.
The beaches and waters of Florida are still a big draw on tourists who provide billions of dollars worth to the economy here, but as our CEO, Robert Carmichael, cautions in this video report from CNN states: “If the vast majority of tourists knew that they were swimming in this I think they might reconsider where they choose to go for their vacation”.
Other human impacts include the dredging that we have reported on previous also and that is a current concern with the upcoming planned dredging for the Port Everglades inlet due to commence in 2017.
As previously mentioned on GlobalSubDive’s website and as also referenced in this CNN report, similar efforts in Miami in 2014 rendered huge areas of corals smothered by silt from the dredging there.
View the CNN report HERE.