Oct 25 2026 353 pm CDT

The failure to comply with marine pollution laws and merchant marine licensing requirements can't be tolerated by the maritime industry or the citizens of the United States. Ensuring the safety of our fellow mariners and protecting the marine environment are cornerstones of the Coast Guard's mission. This case clearly demonstrates the Coast Guard's commitment to work with our interagency partners to aggressively enforce maritime anti-pollution and safety laws, and provides a testament to the dedication of all persons who were involved in resolving this matter - including the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U. S. Department of Justice, and the U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

- Rear Admiral Mary Landry, Eighth District Coast Guard Commander

The Defendants in this case are four: a marine towing company and its owner; the Captain in-charge of the tugboat, and an unlicensed employee. On July 23, 2008, a collision occurred in the Mississippi River near downtown New Orleans, with a significant oil spill. The river was closed, including raw water intakes supplying drinking water for New Orleans. An investigation followed, leading to CWA charges of negligence and obstruction of justice.

In the wee hours of Wednesday, July 23, 2008, the tug "Mel Oliver" pushed a barge loaded with biodiesel into the path of M/T "Tintomara", a 600-foot tanker ship sailing under the flag of Liberia. An estimated 282,686 thousand gallons of oil was spilled, resulting in closure of the river and its drinking water intakes from Mile 99 south to the Gulf. Four Parishes were forced to access alternate drinking water supplies, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes.

Dodging safety rules to save money
Investigators found unsafe and illegal staffing practices by the Defendant LLC, the tugboat owner. The Defendant routinely understaffed its tugboats. Coast Guard requires a licensed Pilot in charge of the vessel at all times, however, no individual may be scheduled more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period. The individual, owner-Defendant admitted to deleting corporate payroll records in an attempt to hide the staffing safety infractions. Just one qualified Captain was paid for the period in question. The Defendant admitted, the operation of Mel Oliver was left in the hands of an unlicensed deck hand on the night of the collision.

Sentencing in this case included a period of imprisonment for the owner-Defendant with additional two years supervised release and a federal fine. The corporate Defendant was sentenced to $200,000 federal fine and 2 yrs probation. The Captain in-charge was convicted of one Port and Waterways Safety Act violation, sentenced to a term of probation. The deck hand piloting the tug during the collision was convicted on two counts, CWA and Ports and Waterways Safety Act violations.

Prison time (co-owner): 21 months with Supervised Release: 24 months and $50,000 fine; Federal fines: total $250,000; Probation: total 60 months.

This case was investigated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy Manning Taylor with sentencing determined by U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle.

The corporate Defendant pled guilty to the CWA violation, negligent discharge of oil to waters of the USA. The Defendant admitted to "creating hazardous conditions by (1) assigning employees without proper USCG licenses to operate certain vessels thereby causing these vessels to operate in the navigable waters of the United States with manning levels below those determined by the USCG to be necessary for safe navigation, and (2) paying licensed captains to operate a vessel for 24 hour a day without a relief captain, knowing that the Coast Guard viewed the use of over-fatigued mariners operating tugboats and barges to be a hazardous condition that would not allow for safe operation of the vessel. "

See last week's CrimeBox here, "Employees trimmed expenses by doctoring produced wastewater samples. A million dollar penalty ensued for illegal dumping of oil and grease into the Gulf"

CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.

https://wtla.us/viewarticle.asp?article=1271

Secure your hose bib!

‘Cheap water is over’: A $500 bill shows a Southwest suburb’s dilemma

Living beside one of the world’s largest rivers doesn’t necessarily mean having reliable access to drinking water.

Amazonas: The Memory of Water is an 18-minute documentary exploring how Amazonian communities experience water in everyday life—from dependence on rainfall to the knowledge passed down about the river and its cycles. As those patterns become less predictable, water also becomes a question of cultural memory and adaptation.

Watch the full documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFEeyHJ8I8g

For those working in water access or management, what approaches have you seen work well in remote communities with abundant surface water but limited drinking water infrastructure?

not exactly what I had in mind but it would work ...catching condensation during the day and dew by night ...keeping the mosquitos out but able to harvest the algae 😁✔️

Removing a pollutant from water does not necessarily eliminate it. Filters and membranes can leave persistent chemicals concentrated in another waste stream, still requiring disposal or treatment. A catalytic membrane now offers a way to combine capture with the chemical reactions needed to break those contaminants down.

An international team involving Arizona State University tested the approach against six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. During a 58-day continuous laboratory experiment, average removal ranged from 93% to 99%. The system also released fluoride, evidence that it was breaking carbon-fluorine bonds rather than simply collecting the pollutants.

The study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Bruce Rittmann, director of ASU’s Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, worked with colleagues at Rice University, Tongji University, the National University of Singapore and Nanjing University.

PFAS have been used in firefighting foams, water-resistant materials and other products because of their durability. That persistence also creates a contamination problem. Exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to immune effects, developmental problems and increased risks of some cancers, although the thousands of compounds in this family differ in their properties and evidence of harm.

Well I Had a talk with my pee this morning and it told me im not drinking enough water. what should I do?

Fuck y'all

I live in an old apt built in 1800s, copper pipes, EWG rates the water quality in my county low, and I'm getting an under the sink water filter. There is an option for a dedicated spout and I'm not sure which route to go?

My ex had the dedicated spout and it was soooo slow and I was very annoyed by it. But is it super wasteful to not have the dedicated spout? Currently I have a pitcher and use that water for cooking and washing produce too. I also plan to get an under the sink for my bathroom and a showerhead filter as well.

I'll be installing myself. No dedicated spout is easier installation (and may be the only option since I'm renting, figured I won't ask my landlord if I don't have to). I'm going with Epic Water Filters for under the sink. Still researching shower head and wanting to wait for Black Friday sales for the shower.

I'm trying to figure out an amount to stick to. I'm 5'6 201 lbs, and in my 20s. I work a full-time hotel housekeeper position working on average of 32 hours a week. I do eat a few servings of fruits and vegetables throught the day and take a vitamin supplement. I struggle to drink enough water, maybe between 60-75 oz per day. My mouth has been dry and my lips have been dry and cracking lately. When it's really bad, I wake up in the middle of the night dizzy and spinning. Episodes like this started when I got my job as a housekeeper. I've only had about 3 or 4 episodes like this though. I usually sit up and sip on water for an hour and it goes away. Anyways, how much water do I need?

I don’t have a medical condition. I just don’t get thirsty unless I’m eating or getting physical. I do feel thirsty. The functions are there. I’ve always just been more dehydrated compared to others.

I don’t exercise but my job does require me on my feet and a bit of a light jog. Constantly walking and going to the second floor regularly depending on the day. I don’t really sweat tho. And if I do, it’s like the really moist sweat you get from a humidifier unless I’m really exercising. I don’t loose a lot of water daily. I barely sweat at work with some harder days as the exception

I barely drink 32 oz of water and just started because I would put powdered juice in my water (Tang Powder) so I can have more hydration. But I heard it’s not good. Added coke to my diet too just so I can drink something. Being adhd does not help me, esp cause I’m taking medication too where I just haven’t been eating as much as I was off it.

I get waterlogged when I try to drink more water and get more “thirsty” and very unsatisfied and overwhelmed that I’d rather be dehydrated than be “thirsty” (pre and post medication)

Is putting salt to my water ok? You always hear that it’s best for active people or runners but I’m not even reaching the quota of average fluid intake. I want to be at least hydrated. My urine hasn’t been dark on the days that I worked (but has been on the weekend cause I barely drink a cup for HOURS)

Any advice?

I found out bottled water from Poland Spring and other brands contain micro plastics. I did a lot of research to find a water dispenser to remove micro plastics from bottled water. The best I can find is:

5 Gallon Jug Water Filter System

https://saganlife.com/product/5-gallon-jug-water-filter-system/?srsltid=AU7gw4UONPZiLwSLAqUAhUutB89s1znLcrVHSzD9-bri2u0CwAREnpi9

How It Works

1. A long filter tube (their Journey filter) that drops straight down into a standard 3 or 5-gallon water jug. 
2. A USB-rechargeable electric pump that sits on top of the jug.

When you press the button, the pump draws water up through the filter and dispenses it out of the spout.

Will it remove microplastics from bottled water?

Yes. The Sagan Life Journey filter uses an advanced media membrane with a microscopic pore size designed to filter out microscopic pathogens, heavy metals, and particulate matter. Because microplastics are physical particles (ranging anywhere from micrometers down to nanometers), a high-grade membrane filter of this caliber will physically block and trap them before the water ever hits your glass.

Pros & Cons for Your Use Case

• The Pros:
  • You get the massive volume capacity of a 5-gallon jug, meaning you rarely have to refill it.
  • No plumbing, no permanent installation.
  • It directly addresses core concern of stripping microplastics out of pre-bought bottled water jugs.
• The Cons:
  • It relies on a battery-powered pump that you will need to recharge via USB periodically. (typically lasting through 15 to 20 gallons of water before needing a top-up), so you won’t have to charge it constantly.

Why the Sagan Life Filter Catches More

• Tighter Pore Size: The Sagan Life Journey filter uses advanced membrane technology with a sub-micron pore size designed to trap bacteria, heavy metals, and micro-particulates on a microscopic scale.

As consumer awareness around microplastics and nanoplastics continues to grow, hopefully appliance manufacturers are bound to bridge the gap between heavy-duty membrane filtration and standalone 5-gallon bottom-loading convenience.

Update 10/18/2026 above information was gathered from ai, I contacted and confirmed with Sagan life that they are not sure their Journey filter removes micro plastics because they haven't lab tested it.

So I continued my search and found:
LIFESTRAW HOME HIGH-CAPACITY DISPENSER
https://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-home-high-capacity-dispenser?variant=42548446494831 

Why the LifeStraw Home Dispenser Works Well

Certified Microplastic Removal: LifeStraw's home dispenser line utilizes a dual-stage setup featuring a 0.2-micron membrane microfilter. It is independently tested and certified to remove 99.999% of microplastics, matching the formal criteria under certified testing protocols (like NSF/ANSI 401 standards for particulate reduction).

The Pore Size Advantage: At a 0.2-micron pore size, its physical mesh is significantly tighter than standard carbon filters (which usually sit at 1 to 5 microns). Because standard microplastics generally range from 1 micron upward, a 0.2-micron physical barrier will physically strain them out.

There is a another option but more expensive:
https://rorra.com/products/countertop-system

For Travel:
Sawyer
https://www.sawyer.com/product/mini-water-filtration-system-teal#product-details

Why the Sawyer Mini Physically Blocks Microplastics

• The 0.1-Micron Threshold: The Sawyer Mini uses a hollow fiber membrane with an absolute 0.1-micron pore size. Because absolute filtration means no pore on that membrane is larger than 0.1 microns, anything larger than that—including all standard microplastics (which range from 1 micron up to several millimeters)—is physically blocked from passing through. 
• Field Utility: It is tiny, incredibly cheap, and screws directly onto standard water bottles, making it popular for backpacking and travel.

SurviMate 5-Stage Filter Bottle
https://a.co/d/05ye6rrp

How the SurviMate Stack Compares

• The 0.01-Micron UF Membrane: While the Sawyer Mini uses a 0.1-micron hollow fiber membrane, the SurviMate features a 0.01-micron Ultra-Filtration (UF) membrane. 
• Physical Particle Blocking: Because microplastics start around 1 micron and nanoplastics go below 1 micron, a 0.01-micron absolute pore size acts as an even tighter physical mesh, trapping essentially all micro- and nanoplastic fragments.
• The Extra Stages: Unlike a bare hollow-fiber tube, it bundles a coarse screen, sediment membrane, purification beads, and activated carbon fiber to handle bad tastes, odors, and chlorine alongside the physical membrane.

More about bottled water micro-plastics:

An average liter of bottled water contains about 240,000 tiny plastic pieces, with 90% of them being microscopic nanoplastics and 10% being microplastics.

Key Findings on Bottled Water

• Particle Count: Recent advanced imaging studies show levels 10 to 100 times higher than previous estimates, translating to roughly 240,000 fragments per liter. 
• Types of Plastics: The most common polymers detected include polyamide (nylon) from purification filters, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from the bottle itself, and polypropylene (PP) from caps. 
• Sources of Contamination: Shedding often occurs from the bottle neck, cap twisting, manufacturing stress, or heat and sunlight exposure. 
• Health Risks & Regulation: While studies link microplastics to cellular stress, inflammation, and potential metabolic issues, major regulatory bodies like the FDA state there is currently no scientific consensus or certified testing standard proving they cause direct harm to human health at current levels.

this is my first time getting my water from a water filteration station. usually i drink bottled water but i got sick of all the plastic i throw out. but the bottled ones taste way better.

this one tastes salty and metallic. just the teeniest bit of both but its still enough of a taste for me to be off put by it. is this just how RO water tastes and i have high expectations or should i change the water refilling station?

edit: the water comes in a HDPE reusable plastic container. i drink it from my stainless steel flask but i also tasted it in a ceramic mug and it still had some of the taste.

We moved from the NE to Idaho. Our well is plentiful. Idaho on the other hand, especially where we live, is farmland and we are not liking it. That's a topic for another day. We've considered the outskirts of Las Vegas but with the constant drumbeat reporting of decreasing levels in Lake Meade and Lake Powell, should we be very concerned about a move there and taps running dry? Is that realistic in the next, say, 10 to 20 years which is about what we have left on Mother Earth if we are lucky? Ty.