GeoHar9966_at_aol.com wrote: > > I would like suggestions on disposal of human waste while camping along the coast. > My understanding is that you can leave your solid waste in the inter tidal > zone since it is biodegradable. Is this OK? Good question. In the dialog which has ensued over this, I have seen no discussion on what "happens" to human waste if one uses the long-accepted intertidal flush procedure: dig 30 cm deep hole in sand/gravel well below the high tide line, deposit solid waste in it, burn your TP, then cover and tamp. (Note: none of this is approved for freshwater use -- different biology, maybe?) Does anybody know of any **studies** of the rate of microbial breakdown of human waste via this method? I'm asking because at some popular campsites in the Charlottes, I calculate about 150 "deposits" in a week's time during the high season. Like others, I'm not interested in wading/paddling/swimming in someone's poop (not even my own!). However, if the stuff decomposes to non-toxic materials within a couple days, I guess I can live with that. Anybody have data or *knowledge* about that? So far, we have a bunch of anecdotes surrounding pooping on the beach. We can do better than that on Jackie's classy list. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Aug 29 1999 - 02:32:49 PDT
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