Boaters May Soon Be Prohibited From Dumping Sewage In Anne Arundel Waters

Press release from the City of Annapolis:

Posted on: October 16, 2019

CITY OF ANNAPOLIS

160 Duke of Gloucester St. Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Media Contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724, mwstephenson@annapolis.gov;

Roz Hamlett, 410-279-4748 roz.hamlett@aacounty.org

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

No Discharge Zone Press Conference

WHO: Annapolis Mayor Gavin BuckleyAnne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman

WHAT: No Discharge Zone Signing and Announcement

WHERE: Susan Campbell Park, City Dock, Annapolis

WHEN: October 18, 2019, 12:30 p.m.

WHY: Mayor Gavin Buckley, of Annapolis, with Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, will sign the EPA and Maryland Department of the Environment application to create a No Discharge Zone (NDZ) in an area that includes the Annapolis Harbor and all waterways that feed the Chesapeake Bay that begin in Anne Arundel County (including the Severn River, Magothy River, South River, and West/Rhode Rivers).

In a No Discharge Zone, boats with a hold are not permitted to discharge either treated or untreated boat sewage. By keeping human waste out of area waterways, it will help to clean up waterways in an area that runs from Gibson Island to Deale.

When Rhode Island instituted a No Discharge Zone at Great Salt Pond, officials were able to reopen shellfish beds that had been closed from high bacteria levels for over a decade. In Avalon Harbor, California, bacteria counts dropped from 16,000 to 23 organisms per 100 milliliter by a strong enforcement effort after their NDZ was adopted.

The Annapolis Harbormaster’s Pumpout boat will be on-site to demonstrate the service. Maps of pump-out stations in Anne Arundel County will be available.

Also confirmed for attendance:

• Alderman Fred Paone

• Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson

This press release was produced by the City of Annapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.