3 ms·

I was listening to NPR yesterday in the car. The topic fecal bacteria levels on the beaches. The host just blurted out that Climate change drives fecal bacter

by tmaly 3y ago

I was listening to NPR yesterday in the car. The topic fecal bacteria levels on the beaches. The host just blurted out that Climate change drives fecal bacteria levels on the beach. I was curious to hear his reasoning so I can understand the logic behind the statement. But.. nothing more was said of this. I have a similar but not exact feel about this article. It mentions a study, but the logic in the post does not seem rigorous enough. NPR is great, but I think they are doing a great disservice by not checking their arguments.

zerocrates 3y ago
It would seem this is the exchange you're talking about: -- KELLY: Do I dare ask where [the fecal bacteria on beaches] is coming from? SCOTT: A number of places - there is pollution from things like failing sewage and stormwater infrastructure. And of course, you know, heavier storms are coming with climate change, so that will likely increase - and then from places like livestock and factory farms. -- Seems like a pretty straightforward follow-on from the accepted concept that climate change leads to more severe weather. This was also one story out of three in a little segment... I don't know how much you can reasonably expect in terms of detail here.
- phyzome 3y ago
  To expand on this: It is extremely common for stormwater and sewage systems to be connected in such a way that a stronger than usual rainstorm causes unprocessed ("raw") sewage to be released into rivers and oceans. Climate change is driving these stronger, burstier storms. (Many cities are also working on decoupling these systems, but that is a very slow, laborious process...)
  - iamflimflam1 3y ago
    Happens a lot in the UK - in some part due to under investment by the water companies and also due to our ageing victorian infrastructure.
  - throw0101c 3y ago
    At least in older (parts of) cities: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_sewer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_sewer
paulmd 3y ago
> I was listening to NPR yesterday in the car. The topic fecal bacteria levels on the beaches. The host just blurted out that Climate change drives fecal bacteria levels on the beach. I was curious to hear his reasoning so I can understand the logic behind the statement. But.. nothing more was said of this. > I have a similar but not exact feel about this article. It mentions a study, but the logic in the post does not seem rigorous enough. NPR is great, but I think they are doing a great disservice by not checking their arguments. well, this doesn't seem to be a case of them not checking their arguments. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8834802/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8834802/ https://www.health.com/us-beaches-fecal-contamination-7559482 https://www.health.com/us-beaches-fecal-contamination-755948...

by tmaly 3y ago

zerocrates 3y ago

It would seem this is the exchange you're talking about: -- KELLY: Do I dare ask where [the fecal bacteria on beaches] is coming from? SCOTT: A number of places - there is pollution from things like failing sewage and stormwater infrastructure. And of course, you know, heavier storms are coming with climate change, so that will likely increase - and then from places like livestock and factory farms. -- Seems like a pretty straightforward follow-on from the accepted concept that climate change leads to more severe weather. This was also one story out of three in a little segment... I don't know how much you can reasonably expect in terms of detail here.

phyzome 3y ago
To expand on this: It is extremely common for stormwater and sewage systems to be connected in such a way that a stronger than usual rainstorm causes unprocessed ("raw") sewage to be released into rivers and oceans. Climate change is driving these stronger, burstier storms. (Many cities are also working on decoupling these systems, but that is a very slow, laborious process...)
- iamflimflam1 3y ago
  Happens a lot in the UK - in some part due to under investment by the water companies and also due to our ageing victorian infrastructure.
- throw0101c 3y ago
  At least in older (parts of) cities: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_sewer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_sewer

paulmd 3y ago

> I was listening to NPR yesterday in the car. The topic fecal bacteria levels on the beaches. The host just blurted out that Climate change drives fecal bacteria levels on the beach. I was curious to hear his reasoning so I can understand the logic behind the statement. But.. nothing more was said of this. > I have a similar but not exact feel about this article. It mentions a study, but the logic in the post does not seem rigorous enough. NPR is great, but I think they are doing a great disservice by not checking their arguments. well, this doesn't seem to be a case of them not checking their arguments. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8834802/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8834802/ https://www.health.com/us-beaches-fecal-contamination-7559482 https://www.health.com/us-beaches-fecal-contamination-755948...