Waste(d) on Ocean Science Radio

About this episode

This episode discusses the critical issue of wastewater pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems, featuring insights from Jos Hill of The Nature Conservancy.

What happens after you flush? Most of us don't think about it—but maybe we should. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into one of the ocean's biggest but least discussed threats: wastewater pollution. Join us as we talk with Jos Hill, Program Director for The Nature Conservancy's Wastewater Pollution Program and creator of the groundbreaking podcast "waste(d)water." Jos reveals the shocking scale of this crisis: 80% of wastewater worldwide is inadequately treated, 58% of coral reefs are exposed to wastewater pollution, and wastewater accounts for a staggering 40% of coastal nutrient pollution—nearly as much as agriculture. Discover how even highly treated wastewater can devastate marine ecosystems, why coral disease outbreaks in the Florida Keys have been traced back to human gut pathogens, and how nutrient-rich wastewater is making coral reefs more vulnerable to marine heat waves and climate change. But this isn't just doom and gloom—Jos shares inspiring recovery stories from Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii and Tampa Bay in Florida, proving that when pollution is addressed, ecosystems can bounce back. Learn about innovative nature-based solutions, including treatment gardens that clean…

People in this episode

Guest: Jos Hill

Topics covered

• wastewater pollution
• marine ecosystems
• coral reefs
• climate change
• environmental recovery
• social justice

Keywords

• wastewater
• pollution
• coral disease
• nutrient pollution
• marine heat waves
• treatment gardens
• environmental recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Nature Conservancy

Products: waste(d)water

Places: Kaneohe Bay, Florida Keys, Tampa Bay

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