Morrison Spring closed due to fecal matter

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Originally Posted by kensuf

It's not a lay theory, it can actually happen. http://www.globalunderwaterexplorers...ater-chemistry

The site where the samples collected in the above article has no known sources of surface intrusion, but several samples collected over an eighteen month period produced similar results indicating high concentrations of human coliform bacteria. Dollars to donuts was it was probably a leaking septic tank somewhere in line over the aquifer that caused the particular problems at that location.

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Took this picture a few weeks ago in Dan's Cave (Abaco Island, Bahamas).

Attachment 9007

Brian is using a light to point out a small stream of brown liquid coming down thru a crack in the ceiling of the cave.
Forgot to ask him where it was coming from...

Morrison is a great place to practice CCR OPs and EPs and still get 90ffw. Plenty of vertical relief in lower cavern to work buoyancy and trim issues. Plus I can be there in under an hour.

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Originally Posted by OutlawCaver

Morrison is a great place to practice CCR OPs and EPs and still get 90ffw. Plenty of vertical relief in lower cavern to work buoyancy and trim issues. Plus I can be there in under an hour.

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Me too. I used it to try different bailout set ups with my Meg. And at less than an hour from home (and free), quite convenient.

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Originally Posted by Puttzer

I recall a few years ago at one of the cave diving meetings: a state agent lectured explaining that the main source of water contamination was not septic tanks. It was chicken farms and septic tanks were near the bottom of the list and an insignificant source compared to the other sources.

Would like someone more informed than I to chime in and correct me as needed

Richard.

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Septic Tanks are local problems, rather than across-florida problems. Chicken farms are important, but in the past five years, the number of dairy cows has overtaken or caught up with the chickens (eat more chiken!). On the other hand, I remember someone from florida EPA talking about the aging of the septic systems along a stretch of the Suwannee River that was like a ticking time bomb for the Suwannee....

When I was doing water quality work for the NACD, we consistently found over-the-top e coli readings in the Suwannee (over-the-top means more than allowed for swimming). These were "point-readings," and we did not continue with a consistent plan to detect trends.

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Regarding Morrison's current condition - call the Walton County Health Department at 850-892-8021 for reports.

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This reminds me...

I read/heard people taking snacks when doing long dives, with the justification that it's not a big deal to eat while underwater because it's fresh water.

Do you guys ever take a sip while cave diving? 99% of my diving is in the ocean, so even when in fresh water my instinct reflex is always to not drink the surrounding water.

I bring Capri Sun juice bags. Using the straw and maintaing a slight positive pressure on the bag keeps water intrusion to a minimum.

Certain I get more cave water in my mouth when I switch regs.

Food? to be honest, the thought of choking gives me significant cause for concern....

I used to take a drink every now and again, whats the difference between the water half a mile back in a cave and the water coming from the well 50 feet away?

I will take a drink when then water is clear. I used to use Capri Sun's as well. I would also take fun size snickers occasionally. I hate turning in to a diva.

I'll take a drink while in the cave, if the water is clear and the system has some decent flow (and I'm upstream of my buddy, :D ).