RE: Group Project - Gray water laws

[Tim5055]

 
OK, I ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but it is a big project.
 
 We need a list of links to the different state laws regarding the dumping of gray water.  Most of the post I see are like " Joe says"  or " Mary says"  rather than a definitive link to the exact state law.
 
 So how about it - why dosnt everyone try to find their own states law regarding the gray water and post a link here.
 
 I m going to search out Maryland
 
 Anyone want to help???

[tlhdoc]

 tim5055
Hi Tim,
 
 This is a good idea.  I looked on line and couldn t find the info needed so I wrote to the DEP.  When I get an answer I will let you know.
 
 

[wssfetch]

 tim5055
In my noncamping life I work at the Florida Legislature in the divison that publishes the Florida Statutes.  What I can tell you all is that MOST, but not all, states have their codes or statutes online and available to the public for free.  
 
 Statutory law or statutory code is that which is passed into law by a state assembly or legislature.  In addition, states also have administrative laws or codes--which are rules created by a particular state agency.  And local county or municipal governments will also have ordinances or codes relating to environmental issues.
 
 The best source to find links to various state laws is www.findlaw.com.  
 
 For information on camping and recreational issues in Florida, the best source would be the state s website: www.myflorida.com.  Click the the menu item for Visitor on the left hand side of the page and then follow links to info on state parks, hunting, fishing, boating, etc.
 
 If you are searching your state s online codes, be aware that the terminology used may vary--gray water, pollutant discharges, wastewater, water disposal--so search on more than just one term.
 
 Hope this helps you find what you are looking for.
 
 

[Tim5055]

 tim5055
Sue,
 
 Thanks -
 
 Anothe thing, the controlling force may not be in the state law at all either, it may be in a regulation.
 
 Having worked with the Florida Department of Health las year when they re-wrote the regulations regarding gray water tanks I found there was more in the regulations in Florida than there is in the law.

[GeneF]

 tim5055
I couldn t find the NH law but I found this at a campground site.
 
 The State of New Hampshire prohibits dumping of gray water on the ground

[Danusmom]

 tim5055
This site contains a lot of the legal sections & articles, yada, yada...with no specific mention of disposing of gray/waste water while in a campground or other state land.
 http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=29900921&Dpt=NR&RngHigh=
 
 This page is called " camping hints" ; not necessarily " laws"  or " regulations" .  It does say to keep soap, toothpaste, & other cleaning products 100 feet away from wells & other sources of water.  It also adivises using biodegradable soap.
 http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_10883-31426--,00.html
 
 Because I could not find a specific statement/law/article/regulation, I emailed the question directly to the person who posts answers to questions such as the one we are asking.  I ll post the reply/answer as soon as I receive it.
 
 Peace be with you all.

[wssfetch]

 tim5055
Tim, you are very correct.  There is often more in regulatins--the so-called administrative law-- because they can be changed more quickly to respond to emerging problems.  Statutes and state codes may only be changed by act of the legislature.  In some states, legislatures only meet every other year.  And statutory or codified law is considered more permanent and general in nature, so the rules and regulations allow states to be more flexible.  In Florida, for example, the legislature usually addresses an issue in the statutes, sets up broad programs, and then provides a state agency or board with rulemaking authority to implement the program.  This way the statutory law doesn t have to be changed by the legislature every year just to keep up with new problems or new solutions.
 
 Some state laws will not appear on line because those states have proprietary agreements with private legal publishers who actually publish them in paper and digital form.  
 
 Gray and blackwater discharge is a big issue in Florida.  Our aquifer is so fragile and so close to the surface in many locations.  We depend on the aquifer for drinking water so any discharge or runoff is critical.

[Danusmom]

 tim5055
Sue, you remind me of an article I read regarding the high level of the hormone estrogen & certain antibiotics found in the water & some wildlife of Lake Tahoe.  Some research reported finding substantial levels of these 2  un-natural ingredients  not only in the water but also in the fish & amphibian wildlife.  The theory was leaning towards the levels existing as a result of natural (long-ended) progression of sewage filtration -->Hence, not (necessarily) a result of direct gray water dumping in the lake.  They elaborated by saying the sewage filtering process does not filter out hormones & antibiotics --I have no idea if this is actually true or not-- & that if someone were taking these oral medications....it ends up back into the environment.
 
 Keep in mind this was only one research result I read in an organic living magazine.  How valid the data is not something I followed up on as I am not in close proximity of the area.
 
 Peace be with you all.

[Mahaffey-Family]

 tim5055
We have a law in Virginia.  Gray water cannot be dumped on the ground.  It has to be caught in something and disposed of.

[wssfetch]

 Danusmom

 

ORIGINAL:  Danusmom
 
 Sue, you remind me of an article I read regarding the high level of the hormone estrogen & certain antibiotics found in the water & some wildlife of Lake Tahoe.  Some research reported finding substantial levels of these 2  un-natural ingredients  not only in the water but also in the fish & amphibian wildlife.  The theory was leaning towards the levels existing as a result of natural (long-ended) progression of sewage filtration -->Hence, not (necessarily) a result of direct gray water dumping in the lake.  They elaborated by saying the sewage filtering process does not filter out hormones & antibiotics --I have no idea if this is actually true or not-- & that if someone were taking these oral medications....it ends up back into the environment..
 

 
 I ve heard several interesting programs about this on National Public Radio.  My husband works in the state s water quality organic chemistry lab.  It is amazing the things they test for that get past the treatment systems and are out there in our streams and ponds and groundwater.  So when camping we need to be as careful steward of God s earth as we can be.
 

[Starryart]

 tim5055
FYI-
 Here in Texas the laws can be found in the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
 are stated as such:
 

(ee) Waste water, sewage, and gray water.
     It is an offense to:
        1. deposit waste water, sewage, or effluent from sinks, toilets, or other plumbing fixtures directly on the ground or into the water;
        2. use any water fountain, drinking fountain, pool, sprinkler, reservoir, lake or any other water body contained in the park for bathing, laundering, and washing dishes, pets, or vehicles; and
        3. deposit fish parts at any location except park fish cleaning facilities.

 Here is the website:
 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/admin/rules.htm#graywater
 
 

[mike4947]

 tim5055
Here in NY, it depends on where you are. There s state regs that apply everywhere, BUT, in the Adirondak park, the Adirondak Park Agency suppersceeds the state regs and if you are on fereral land other regs come into play.
 Right now our county and city are in a fight over sewage treatment and the regulations and laws getting thrown around are something to behold.
 
 Since we have the " honor"  of having the most polluted body of water in North America I m not exactly in favor of any dumping of untreated waste water no mater what the regulations. I m sure 100 years ago there were the people that said " what s a little dirty water going to hurt?"   I figure I ll try and keep up my end so 100 years from now I won t be part of their problem.

[chip]

 tim5055
Here s the response I got from our Parks and Recreation folks. I looked through the Delaware Code and couldn t find anything that specifically referred to gray water.
 
 ...snip
 
 Dear Mr. Rosan:
 
 Thank you for your inquiry concerning the dumping of gray water in Delaware State Parks. You are correct in your assumption that this practice would be in violation of our Rules and Regulations. While we do not have a specific regulation addressing this issue, it does fall under a more general regulation:
 
 Park Rules and Regulations
 Section 15.1 Property Violations
 
 a. It shall be unlawful to place, dump, deposit, throw or leave any garbage, refuse, trash, cans, bottles, or other debris of any kind within or upon any public beach, lands or waters administered by the Division, except in receptacles provided for such purpose.
 (1) No person shall bring into a State Park from an area outside of the park any garbage, refuse, waste, rubbish, or obnoxious materials for the purpose of disposing of such in park litter receptacles.
 
 b. Disposing or discharging of solid waster on lands or waters under the jurisdiction of the Division is prohibited. Violators may be charged under Title 7, Delaware Code, Chapter 60, subsection 6025(b).
 
 Your request for this information seems to relate to camping. Our campgrounds have multiple ways of dealing with gray water depending on how it is produced. There are centralized disposal drains for gray water created by tent campers doing dishes, etc. Campgrounds also have designated " dump stations"  for camping trailers to dispose of collected gray water. These dump stations are free for registered campers. The general public are permitted to use our dump stations but are charged a fee (currently $5).
 
 
 end snip...
 
 More info can be found on the Delaware state parks web site:
 
 http://www.destateparks.com/
 
 
 Hope that helps.
 
 

[byrdr1]

 tim5055
Here is the official answer I got from NC State Parks about gray water issues.
 
 " It is not permissible to discharge " gray water"  in any North Carolina
 State Park except in an appropriate dumping station and as far as I know
 it is not a legal practice to discharge onto the ground anywhere in the
 state.
 
 If you need additional clarification about this issue or the facilities
 at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area please contact Supt. Billy Totten
 at (919) 362-0586.
 
 Thank you for your interest in North Carolina State Parks.
 
 Scott Daughtry
 South District Superintendent, North Carolina State Parks."

[4Galvs]

 tim5055
Tim & all,
 
 I shot off an e-mail to the ILNDR asking about gray water disposal.  From their Website I have a hunch it may be covered in this regulation:
 
 " Section 110.100 Littering
 
 It shall be unlawful:
 
 a) For any person using Department of Natural Resources facilities to discard, abandon,
 place, or deposit on Department of Natural Resources properties, except in containers
 provided, any wire, cans, bottles, glass, paper trash, rubbish, garbage, cardboard, wood
 boxes or other insoluble animal, vegetable, metal, or mineral materials.
 
 b) For any person to bring into Department of Natural Resources property any of the items
 listed in subsection (a) above, with the express purpose of disposing, abandoning, or
 leaving any of these types of materials on Department property, whether they are left or
 placed in proper containers or not.
 
 c) For food to be possessed or consumed on swimming beaches or the discarding of cans,
 bottles, glass, paper, trash, or insoluble materials on the designated beach area.
 
 (Source: Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 12556, effective August 7, 2000)"
 
 I will let you know what I here from the Sate.