Question about diving in possible toxic waters....

[LadyDigger]

There's an area some of our group (VACards of Pipsico)....talked about at our last hunt...about diving around the BSA Reservation. Someone mentioned that their was a spill in the James River some time ago....something about the toxic waste (or whatever it was)...settled in the soil of the river and it can cause you problems if exposed to it.

What would your recommendations be? Is there a safe way, just in case, to dive in these waters (closer to the BSA Reservation)? Reason for diving, as it's possible Dillard's Township may have been washed away..and we (The Guys) thought maybe diving off the shoreline might produce some items....but when told of the toxic stuff that was leaked/dumped into the James....not sure.

I'll have to PM the one who told us of the toxic stuff....I can't remember the name of this stuff....but any help would be appreciated....should they or should they not DIVE? I'll also have to find out how long ago this was...as I can't remember. I wasn't listening to the entire convo....

Thank you very much,
Annmarie

 

[FloridaBill]

I think one call to your local health department would clear up any concerns you have....

 

[erikk]

Seems like a no brainer to me. There is plenty of water around where you don't have to dive in a toxic waste area. 02

 

[rmptr]

I have no clue about your particular area.

But I can relate a story of California beaches...

During rainy months we get gully washers that send all the chemicals from the cities and farms into the ocean.

Also, one particular state agency allows their sewage plant to overflow at least a couple times each winter.

A local surfer I know personally became ill and was sick for nearly a year after being in bad water.

I would say it's not worth the chance.

You could lose everything.

rmptr

 

[LadyDigger]

I have no clue about your particular area.

But I can relate a story of California beaches...

During rainy months we get gully washers that send all the chemicals from the cities and farms into the ocean.

Also, one particular state agency allows their sewage plant to overflow at least a couple times each winter.

A local surfer I know personally became ill and was sick for nearly a year after being in bad water.

I would say it's not worth the chance.

You could lose everything.

rmptr

Honestly, that is what we have been thinking too...apparently some plant or something had a spill into the James River around the 80's...think mid 80's and the Boy Scout Reservation was not even allowed to use the swimming pool and they could not do any boating activities...

People fish in the James now...but one story heard is similiar to what you said....that even though the water was safe (is safe)...the soil contains this chemical and this guy went in and whereever he came in contact with the soil (of course his legs)...he broke out and got sick...

I was just wondering if there was some kind of suit that could be worn, due to the soil....I know it's a NO BRAINER getting into toxic waters and I guess I should have worded it differently....it's more the soil at the bottom of the river that seems to be the concern...and of course, it's the soil we want to get into in hopes to find evidence of Dillard's Wharf.

I think one call to your local health department would clear up any concerns you have....

I will call and see how true this story is and if it's safe to enter and dig in the soil...

Thank you all....appreciate your input!
Annmarie

 

[Sandman]

I think one call to your local health department would clear up any concerns you have....

Even when wearing a dry suit, the skin around the mask can develop a rash or maybe worse.

 

[rmptr]

I wanted to apologize for perhaps being so negative... NOT a good thing!

There are risks involved with everything.
They should be minimized, and may be, with a bit of research, especially when there can be significant consequences.

You could check with a Department of Waterways, Regional Water Quality Control Board, local Health Department, Fish & Game, or local Sierra Club or RiverKeepers.

Plenty of people will fish in a funky river, but only the foolish ones will eat them!

Stirring up the gunk can be far worse than just being in the water.

Here, we know there are seasonal problems with runoff nto the ocean.
And periodically the health department issues warnings that may be seen on the TV news, for specific locations and the surfers are mostly aware of them... mostly! and it's usually the same places that are affected.

On the dry, it's almost the same, in parks, schools, and playgrounds... there is a flu season that seems to cycle through, moving from one area to the next.

The punker, goth kids sure are a spittin' bunch, too. I watch 'em try to 'out-stoopid' each other...

This morning, at our #1 primary park in the hub of our fair city I watched two pretty young gals who drove up in their lexus and acura, so cute little Poopsie or Snuffie could leave a load on the turf where children play and ladies auxiliary hold functions... go figure!

I could understand the statement, if they went to the lawn of the city hall.

Always got a jug of water, soap, and rags in the truck, though...

Well, now I've gotten even worse.
and I didn't even mention a friend's bout with giardia.


rmptr

 

[tb]

Diving there is probably fine, but digging holes in the mud will stir up tons of silt that will eventually get into your mouth one way or another. I've been cleaning boat hulls and digging in the silt in Rudee Inlet for lost items for quite a few years now and my kids turned out fine. Rudee is not as clean as you think! Especially after it rains, the run off is nasty. I always hose down with freshwater and rinse my mouth out real good right after a dive. One or two exploration dives are probably ok, just use common sense and be safe. No suit will keep all of the water out.

 

[LadyDigger]

RMPTR...oh, that was NOT directed to you...your response was just fine...you were NOT negative at all! And I thank you for your kind response and some clarification. I will make some calls tomorrow (I finally have a day off! LOL)....and see what I can find out. We are really thinking it may not be a good thing, but does not hurt to ask. Again, Thank You.

TB....Thank you for your response as well. Have you ever found any good things in Rudee Inlet? The oceanfront water is pretty nasty too!! My hubby dives alot off the coast....waiting to get him an underwater detector and he can go off the beach and detect LOL....

That is one of my concerns....if the chemical has settled on the James River bed....then stirring it up may cause more problems....but I will still call and see what I can find out...but I really think diving may be out of the question.

Thanks everyone for your responses...sure do appreciate it. I would love to dive ... but this ol' ticker says I can't... oh well, I will enjoy watching others dive!

Have a great day!
Annmarie

 

[rmptr]

Oh, it was just me, AnnMarie...

I really enjoy tall tales and Texas-sized stories... listening, and telling 'em.

...and I tend to slip over to the Dark Side... as people do...

It's that I've seen so many things.
Many were great fun and productive.

Others were fun at the time and I've paid for it ever since!

If I can keep folks away from some of the more foolish things I've done, well, that's a good thing.

Example?
When you are clearing poison oak, and burning it.. stay out of the cloud of smoke.
It's good for a trip to the ER.

Best,
rmptr

 

[Ocean Oso]

RMPTR...oh, that was NOT directed to you...your response was just fine...you were NOT negative at all! And I thank you for your kind response and some clarification. I will make some calls tomorrow (I finally have a day off! LOL)....and see what I can find out. We are really thinking it may not be a good thing, but does not hurt to ask. Again, Thank You.

TB....Thank you for your response as well. Have you ever found any good things in Rudee Inlet? The oceanfront water is pretty nasty too!! My hubby dives alot off the coast....waiting to get him an underwater detector and he can go off the beach and detect LOL....

That is one of my concerns....if the chemical has settled on the James River bed....then stirring it up may cause more problems....but I will still call and see what I can find out...but I really think diving may be out of the question.

Thanks everyone for your responses...sure do appreciate it. I would love to dive ... but this ol' ticker says I can't... oh well, I will enjoy watching others dive!

Have a great day!
Annmarie

Annmarie,

Has a Dr. told you not to dive due to your ticker? If not, it is great exercise as well as just as fun as all get out. Not that stressful on the body beyond carrying the tanks, but you can get someone to do that for you and in the water they weigh less than your scoop. You can also float them on instead of going off the boat/dock/etc... to get into the water.

 

[LadyDigger]

RMPTR...oh, that was NOT directed to you...your response was just fine...you were NOT negative at all! And I thank you for your kind response and some clarification. I will make some calls tomorrow (I finally have a day off! LOL)....and see what I can find out. We are really thinking it may not be a good thing, but does not hurt to ask. Again, Thank You.

TB....Thank you for your response as well. Have you ever found any good things in Rudee Inlet? The oceanfront water is pretty nasty too!! My hubby dives alot off the coast....waiting to get him an underwater detector and he can go off the beach and detect LOL....

That is one of my concerns....if the chemical has settled on the James River bed....then stirring it up may cause more problems....but I will still call and see what I can find out...but I really think diving may be out of the question.

Thanks everyone for your responses...sure do appreciate it. I would love to dive ... but this ol' ticker says I can't... oh well, I will enjoy watching others dive!

Have a great day!
Annmarie

Annmarie,

Has a Dr. told you not to dive due to your ticker? If not, it is great exercise as well as just as fun as all get out. Not that stressful on the body beyond carrying the tanks, but you can get someone to do that for you and in the water they weigh less than your scoop. You can also float them on instead of going off the boat/dock/etc... to get into the water.

Hi Ocean, I have MVP (Mitral Valve Prolaspe: Heart Murmur) and yes ... my cardio doc told me I couldn't. I was getting my dau set up on diving lessons before she left for Guam and I wanted to take lessons as well. They (the dive shop) said I needed to check with my doctor first....oh well, I can enjoy others doing it! I'm just glad my dau can and she enjoys it!!! I'm going to sign up my boys for the Ranger Program!

 

[wreckdiver1715]

They make a dry suit just for Haz-Mat diving.
http://www.vikingdiving.com/

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Just my opinion, but wouldn't be worth the chance for me. Haz-mat suit would be expensive purchase. If there were a million $ in gold bullion, maybe, but it would take that much.

I brave sharks, sing rays, man-a-wars, rip currents, gators, snakes, land sharks no problems....Toxic water or soil is different..... A slow painful death from a rare cancer I didn't have to get to begin with, nope....

Good luck what ever you decide and good hunting......

 

[LadyDigger]

Got an email today...after visiting Surry Co yesterday.

"....Underwater visibility was always close to zero. The Tidewater James is a silty river. I believe underwater archaeology in it, even with the best equipment and experience, would be difficult. And then too, there is the Kepone pollution....."

I'll have to research this Kepone....this is what I was told has settled in the soil of the bed of the river....may not be good to do anything...especially if visibility is bad.

Maybe I'll stand on the shore near the site....take my big scoop I use on the beach and just scoop up some dirt/sand....I don't know...this adventure just may not be possible...sad

Thanks to everyone for your advise and comments!
Annmarie

PS: Here's a link I found on this chemical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepone .....nope, we won't be doing any diving....I can't risk any of my friends and fellow detectorists to venture into something like this. I opt out of this idea now and we will have to come up with something else, if that's possible.

 

[rmptr]

Well Ann,

On the bright side, apparently kepone has a half-life of 30yrs, according to the reference you found.

So I guess that means in maybe 120yrs there will be minimal risk?

I watched some video made with some clips including RiverKeepers in it that was real interesting

And it's not only in your part of the country. A lake near me, here in CA has a certain amount of mercury settled at the bottom in the mud from runoff from past cinnabar mining into today's drinking water supply.

They claim it settles out, but don't eat catfish that feed down in the mud!

Anyway, you did very good protecting the troops in your charge.
You should be commended for that.

rmptr