Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping: A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts August 2019 Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 1 Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping • SODO and Ballard Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) have long monitored the proliferation of RV encampments in their neighborhoods • In addition to a documented increase in criminal activity, drug distribution, vandalism, and theft, BIA representatives have observed cases of illegal sewage, fuel, and trash dumping, which could lead to an environmental and public health crisis • The BIA contracted Anchor QEA to explore the potential impact these encampments might have on the local water system as well as on the possible public health effects of an increase in raw sewage, trash, and other waste co-mingling with the human population • Findings suggest that water quality is declining, raising the possibility of real, measurable issues for the environment as well as an increase in public health challenges connected to poor sanitation in these areas Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 2 Unregulated RV camping has created unrest in the neighborhoods they populate, as neighbors report increased trash, drug use, and crime, resulting in headlines such as: Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 3 Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 4 Missing from these articles are deeper and potentially longer-lasting damages created by unregulated RV camping: environmental degradation and public health risk, which are issues being seen in California today: Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 5 • Status reviews with local and state public health officials • Review of historical and recent water quality data • Projection of potential water quality impacts from unregulated RV encampments • Sampling of Lander Street storm drain Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 6 Water Quality Progress Duwamish River: 1970 to 2015 Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 7 Water Quality Impacts • King County water monitoring data show a recent spike in fecal coliform levels after decades of improvements • Elevated levels confirmed by recent storm drain sampling at South Lander Street ± one standard error * State Water Quality Standard Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 8 Water Quality Impacts (cont.) June 7, 2019 Sample • 4,100 CFU/100 mL • 300 times above standard Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 9 Potential for Worse Impact Estimated Impact of RV Wastewater Releases on Regional Fecal Coliform Water Quality Fecal Coliform Conc. (CFU/100 mL) 500 400 300 200 100 0 SODO/Georgetown/Duwamish Previous Wastewater Receiving Load RV Load Estimated High Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts Ballard/Ship Canal RV Load Estimated Avg State Water Quality Standard 10 Public Health Impacts • Illegal dumping of sewage and trash, along with unsanitary conditions in unregulated RV encampments, increases public health risks similar to those in cities that recorded serious outbreaks of communicable diseases as a result of unregulated encampments Notes: 1 https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/03/typhus-tuberculosis-medieval-diseases-spreadinghomeless/584380/ 2 https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/health-care-providers/~/media/depts/health/ communicable-diseases/documents/advisories/2018/health-advisory-feb-23-2018.ashx 3 Peter Rabinowitz, MD, MPH (University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research) Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 11 Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 12 Public Health Impacts (cont.) • Los Angeles Pathogens in Human Feces – Typhus cases doubled in 2018 from previous 5‐year average • San Diego – 592 Hepatitis A cases causing 20 deaths Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 13 Additional Environmental and Community Health Issues • PCB releases – High PCB levels documented in RV encampments (hoarding?) – Exacerbates/thwarts Duwamish Waterway cleanup efforts • RV fires – Several RV fires already this year KOMO – Contaminants released to air, water, and soil • • • • Paints, plastics, and insulation Gasoline and diesel fuel Antifreeze and battery acids Engine and metal degreasers and motor oils • Fuel theft and spillage – Contaminants released to air, water, and soil Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts Seattle Times 14 While not definitive, the data suggest the following concerns: • Loss of progress on Duwamish Waterway • Degradation of Puget Sound water quality and fish habitat • High potential for hepatitis and typhus outbreaks • Legal action by environmental advocates or infected residents • Increased loss of life among homeless population • Proliferation of rats, lice, fleas, and other vermin • E. coli infections • Increased toxin levels in fish Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 15 Possible Actions • Water quality investigation – Launch identification and correction program – Determine sources of fecal coliform degradation – Determine sources of other contaminants: PCBs and fuel • Enforce City Codes – 11.72.200 – Fuel Loss – 11.72.205 – Grease Dropping – 10.46.010 – Permit for Disposal Required – 11.74.075 – Dumping Loads – 15.46.020 – Spilled Loads – 15.46.030 – Deposits in Street or Gutter Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 16 Conclusions • The state of RV encampments in Seattle neighborhoods demonstrates the far-reaching consequences of inaction on unregulated RV camping • Failure to enforce City laws against the illegal dumping occurring at these sites may already be undoing decades of work to restore the Duwamish Waterway and threatening to spark outbreaks of communicable diseases, both among RV campers and their neighbors • Action to enforce City laws and remove harmful RV encampments is both an environmental and public health imperative Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 17 Questions/Discussion For more information, please contact: • Erin Goodman, SODO BIA – erin@sodoseattle.org • Mike Stewart, Ballard BIA – mike@ballardalliance.com • Clay Patmont, Anchor QEA – cpatmont@anchorqea.com Seattle’s Illegal RV Camping A Topline Study of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts 18