Effects of untreated sewage on the Mesoamerican Reef

[Okcdiver2]

I keep seeing the pic on facebook of the manhole along melgar by punta langosta constantly free flowing sewage. The sewers cant handle the rain. More hard surfaces equal more runoff. Just lump all this is with the southern hotels problems its alot of money to fix. In nyc they had to cut down on polluted runoff into the east river. They put down perneable pavers that are like rice crispie treats and let the water soak in . This cuts down on runoff. Sadly its a dream here in ok and in mexico to but things are out there that can help. More green space and less concrete. As in nyc it takes epa threatening fines to get anything done.

 

[Sloeber]

Like Chief, I missed all of the hub bub, but seriously agree that something has to be done about the sewage situation down south. But to expect a singly person to install a sanitary sewage treatment system is pretty well unrealistic. I am sure that the Island politicos, could, or should, do so just like they did up north for most of the town with a real sewer system (I presume it does work properly).

Of course that would take lots of pressure by us, and a lot of money from Mexico City. Then there is the cost to connect it which may be prohibitive for individual homes. But at least put one in to handle the big resorts and any communities like Residencia Reef—and make them pay for it if necessary.

Bottom line—a few septic tanks may be left but the vast majority of the filth flowing onto our reefs can be fixed easily. Don't sacrifice good while holding out for the perfect.

Dave Dillehay

Hi Dave,

I agree with the majority of your post. However, we are not talking about one residential home, and that was the point. If it was just one location it'd be easy to turn the other way, but as you noted its also resorts, beach clubs, and many residences.

And it's much worse than that, too. My home is in the heart of the city and is connected to city sewer. However, not long after purchasing my house I learned that my secondary shower and my laundry both drained into my well. I gues sit was cheaper or easier to do it incorrectly, so they did. If it wasn't bad enough that the previous homeowners (developers?) intentionally plumbed grey water into open-source water, from the same exact well they plumbed a pump to fill their tinaco! They were literally reusing their own grey water! You will not convince me I'm the only house in downtown Cozumel that took the liberty upon construction to simply dump grey water (and hopefully not black water) into the island's water source.

It doesn't stop here. I think it was alluded too in this thread already about the drill holes randomly around the island. There is one immediately outside my home. It's about 8 inches in diameter and is a straight shot to the water source of the island. Any time it rains all the street pollution drains right down into our water source and eventually out to sea.

If it was just one house in the middle of the country its easy to look the other way. But its not. The problem is bad in Cozumel, and its getting worse. Grumpy old ladies with sensitive feelings censoring discussion is but a microcosm of what we deal with down here. Out of sight is out of mind for most residents, and giving them the knowledge to correct the errors of their way is not being taken to heart.

The question is, how bad will we let it get before action is taken? At what point do we stop starting arguments with me about my presentation and start focusing upon and solving the problems. Today wasn't that day.

 

[Okcdiver2]

Its just an overwhelming problem along coastlines everywhere. Its not just a mexico problem . Urban run off. When you think of all the construction in coz and on mainland its sad. Humans kill everything because we do nothing in moderation and money rules. Even if one problem is fixed there is so many others.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Hi Dave,

I agree with the majority of your post. However, we are not talking about one residential home, and that was the point. If it was just one location it'd be easy to turn the other way, but as you noted its also resorts, beach clubs, and many residences.

And it's much worse than that, too. My home is in the heart of the city and is connected to city sewer. However, not long after purchasing my house I learned that my secondary shower and my laundry both drained into my well. I gues sit was cheaper or easier to do it incorrectly, so they did. If it wasn't bad enough that the previous homeowners (developers?) intentionally plumbed grey water into open-source water, from the same exact well they plumbed a pump to fill their tinaco! They were literally reusing their own grey water! You will not convince me I'm the only house in downtown Cozumel that took the liberty upon construction to simply dump grey water (and hopefully not black water) into the island's water source.

It doesn't stop here. I think it was alluded too in this thread already about the drill holes randomly around the island. There is one immediately outside my home. It's about 8 inches in diameter and is a straight shot to the water source of the island. Any time it rains all the street pollution drains right down into our water source and eventually out to sea.

If it was just one house in the middle of the country its easy to look the other way. But its not. The problem is bad in Cozumel, and its getting worse. Grumpy old ladies with sensitive feelings censoring discussion is but a microcosm of what we deal with down here. Out of sight is out of mind for most residents, and giving them the knowledge to correct the errors of their way is not being taken to heart.

The question is, how bad will we let it get before action is taken? At what point do we stop starting arguments with me about my presentation and start focusing upon and solving the problems. Today wasn't that day.

DEAR Slober,

I know that even in town and the north there are some stupid septic systems with no connection to the sewer system. Hell, I owned the Villa Aldora for 12 years before Hurricane Wilma showed me that the bottom floor, being below the sewer line, was just pumping poop into the water we were swimming in! Of course then I did put in a proper tank with pump to get it up to the sewer line level-- that was 2005. Few ugly breakdowns, but never any leaks into the ocean bound for Cuba.

You see, pollution up north generally flows to Cuba instead of our primary reefs and in aggregate is nothing like the southern mega hotels down south that do impact our precious reefs. So my point is that we should push to fix the big problems first, then go after the minor ones if we can. I hate the big AIs down there and that should be our first target and not the little folks who have no reasonable alternative down south and probably bought without the knowledge we have now.

Dave Dillehay

 

[kentmorrdave]

There is untreated sewage running directly into the sea on Melgar, just south of Palmeras. It has been running at least 40 hours. It smells like s$#@. Coming through the manhole cover at quite a bit of gallons per minute

 

[Sloeber]

DEAR Slober,

I know that even in town and the north there are some stupid septic systems with no connection to the sewer system. Hell, I owned the Villa Aldora for 12 years before Hurricane Wilma showed me that the bottom floor, being below the sewer line, was just pumping poop into the water we were swimming in! Of course then I did put in a proper tank with pump to get it up to the sewer line level-- that was 2005.

Exactly my point. Here are two people discussing it, both of which purchased homes that were contributing to the problem. We are not alone.

I hate the big AIs down there and that should be our first target and not the little folks who have no reasonable alternative down south and probably bought without the knowledge we have now.

Lets run some fast Google numbers:

Iberostar - 293 Rooms
Allegro - 305
Occidental - 247
Secrets - 238
Residencias Reef - Unknown
Sunscape Sabor - 218
Costa del Sol - Unknown
Fiesta Americana - 102
Landmark - 22
El Presidente - 220

Did I miss any?

The southern AI's represent a total of 1,645 rooms plus the condo units of RR and CDS, plus a number of residencies. I think if we round this up to 2,000 units that is being very generous. Because I'm in the Christmas mood I'll be generous again and say each unit is averaging 3 humans residing in it. That would mean on any given day the AI's account for approximately 6,000 people as a maximum. According to Statista, in 2017 Cozumel had a high of 68% occupancy for the year of 5-star hotels, 63% of 4-star, and 44% of 3-star hotel rooms. I think that covers everything to the south. So really you are talking a daily average much closer to 4,000 people.

I don't think I've ever heard any two sources of Cozumel's population agree, but I believe the lowest I've heard is 60,000 in summer and always near or over 100,000 during winter.

4,000 at AI's versus 100,000 residents.

Granted, the city has *in theory* city sewage. But alas, see the post above mine discussing raw sewage overflowing the underground system and you start to question just how good that system truly is. Add in the number of people scrubbing sidewalks with phosphate-based cleaners, improper plumbing in households, entire neighborhoods without city sewage (Fincas doesn't have city sewers,do they?), drill holes for storm water drainage, boats being cleaned daily with phosphate based cleaners, the city spraying pesticides, family dogs using the streets as a toilet... I think you are greatly under estimating the damage being done by the residents of Cozumel.

Yes, of course this doesn't account for the beach clubs in the south, which no doubt spike the tourist numbers. Nor the fertilizers used for vegetation at resorts, again definitely a factor. But my point remains: All of us have got to do better.

It's easy to point your finger at the AI's and say, "AI bad!" But a bit of perspective should be kept in check as well.

I'm not asking the residents of the south to install a home wastewater processing plant. I'm not asking the downtown residents to jackhammer the floors of their homes. I'm not demanding fines of people in non-compliance. What I'm asking for is open discussion without hurt feelings and censorships. Understanding what the problems are, what the root causes are, and what the options for remedies are, and getting on board with demanding better from our municipality and citizens.

Oh, and one last thought tonight... Yeah, thank the heavens Cozumel has a swift current that constantly bathes us with fresh water from the ocean depths and washes away our pollution. Could you imagine what our reefs would look like if our ocean conditions were similar to Bonaire? We'd be worse than the Florida Keys without question. That prevailing current of Cozumel is our saving grace. If we could just get our heads out of our butts we could really turn this around fast. Bonaire saw results in less than 5 years; we'd probably halve that.

 

[driftwood]

Exactly my point. Here are two people discussing it, both of which purchased homes that were contributing to the problem. We are not alone.



Lets run some fast Google numbers:

Iberostar - 293 Rooms
Allegro - 305
Occidental - 247
Secrets - 238
Residencias Reef - Unknown
Sunscape Sabor - 218
Costa del Sol - Unknown
Fiesta Americana - 102
Landmark - 22
El Presidente - 220

Did I miss any?

The southern AI's represent a total of 1,645 rooms plus the condo units of RR and CDS, plus a number of residencies. I think if we round this up to 2,000 units that is being very generous. Because I'm in the Christmas mood I'll be generous again and say each unit is averaging 3 humans residing in it. That would mean on any given day the AI's account for approximately 6,000 people as a maximum. According to Statista, in 2017 Cozumel had a high of 68% occupancy for the year of 5-star hotels, 63% of 4-star, and 44% of 3-star hotel rooms. I think that covers everything to the south. So really you are talking a daily average much closer to 4,000 people.

I don't think I've ever heard any two sources of Cozumel's population agree, but I believe the lowest I've heard is 60,000 in summer and always near or over 100,000 during winter.

4,000 at AI's versus 100,000 residents.

Granted, the city has *in theory* city sewage. But alas, see the post above mine discussing raw sewage overflowing the underground system and you start to question just how good that system truly is. Add in the number of people scrubbing sidewalks with phosphate-based cleaners, improper plumbing in households, entire neighborhoods without city sewage (Fincas doesn't have city sewers,do they?), drill holes for storm water drainage, boats being cleaned daily with phosphate based cleaners, the city spraying pesticides, family dogs using the streets as a toilet... I think you are greatly under estimating the damage being done by the residents of Cozumel.

Yes, of course this doesn't account for the beach clubs in the south, which no doubt spike the tourist numbers. Nor the fertilizers used for vegetation at resorts, again definitely a factor. But my point remains: All of us have got to do better.

It's easy to point your finger at the AI's and say, "AI bad!" But a bit of perspective should be kept in check as well.

I'm not asking the residents of the south to install a home wastewater processing plant. I'm not asking the downtown residents to jackhammer the floors of their homes. I'm not demanding fines of people in non-compliance. What I'm asking for is open discussion without hurt feelings and censorships. Understanding what the problems are, what the root causes are, and what the options for remedies are, and getting on board with demanding better from our municipality and citizens.

Oh, and one last thought tonight... Yeah, thank the heavens Cozumel has a swift current that constantly bathes us with fresh water from the ocean depths and washes away our pollution. Could you imagine what our reefs would look like if our ocean conditions were similar to Bonaire? We'd be worse than the Florida Keys without question. That prevailing current of Cozumel is our saving grace. If we could just get our heads out of our butts we could really turn this around fast. Bonaire saw results in less than 5 years; we'd probably halve that.

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[Okcdiver2]

People keep saying the downtown waste is swept to cuba. Whose waste is being swept to us?

 

[GameChanger]

Why do some hotels on Coz prohibit flushing toilet paper? Is it because they are not connected to the sewer system? If so, I assume they are on septic tanks and flushing some types of TP will clog them?? Are they contributing to the problem?
(Unlike some folks here, I am not a sewage specialist...)

 

[Okcdiver2]

They should all be connected intown. I just think the lines are so old and decaying it causes clogs. I have never been anywhere in mexico you could flush tp.