It is with great delight that we deliver this annual report to you our Partners and supporters. OSA has progressed significantly over the past year. We have hired our first two employees, myself and Larissa, and our partnership is continuing to grow in size and diversity. We were fortunate enough to have been able to participate in several high-profile events such as the UN Ocean Conference and World Water Week. The exposure that we have achieved from those events combined with our media campaign continues to generate interest to participate in podcasts and webinars. We are slowly but surely getting the word out there that improving water quality by reducing sewage pollution is a necessary tactic in restoring critical ocean habitats. In the coming year we will build upon this narrative and make the case that not only is it necessary, but it also delivers a high return on investment.
We are grateful to have such dedicated Partners that contribute so much to our working groups and quarterly calls. We cannot do this without you all.
Thank you for a wonderful year and Have a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Chris Clapp, Executive Director
Download the 2022 Annual Report
Growing Our Network
In 2022, we welcomed BankaBio, Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor, New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University, and the Gobler Laboratory into the growing Ocean Sewage Alliance.
With our diverse Partner network we can break down silos between water, sanitation and ocean conservation practitioners so that we may collaboratively find solutions to tackle wastewater pollution in ways individual organizations cannot achieve on their own.
Reaching New Audiences
Built by Partners, and working group members and debuted during the Rich Earth Summit, OSA launched a new resource—the Knowledge Hub. The Hub outlines the ocean sewage problem, highlights opportunities to solve it, takes a look at the policy landscape, and combines case studies, courses, maps, publications, webinars, and more in a central Library to find the latest research, connect to experts and learn about successful solutions all over the world.
OSA hosted a panel discussion highlighting connections between UN Sustainable Development Goals during the UN Ocean Conference in June alongside Partners Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy of the Resilient Cities Network, Jenny Myton of Coral Reef Alliance, and Mayor Spurgeon Miller of Honduras.
At the Society of Environmental Journalist annual conference in Houston, Texas, Executive Director Chris Clapp discussed ocean wastewater pollution on a panel organized by author Lina Zeldovich.
During World Water Week at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), OSA focused on the need for source-to-sea management strategies and was their featured interviewee in celebrating World Toilet Day.
OSA worked with Partners at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) to film a PBS Viewpoint episode exploring how communities are using biosolids to reclaim nutrients, produce energy, and fertilize gardens. This topic was also a focus of WEF’s 2022 Year of Poo Friday Flush podcast.
Through insightful news, impact stories, and quirky humor, OSA joined the Zuloo Pōōdcast to discuss and highlight the critical role toilets play in flushing poop out of our lives, the impact toilets have—or lack thereof—on the health and wellness of humanity.
In the most recent edition of the OctoGroup Webinar, programming reaching more than 100,000 ocean professionals in 120 countries each year, OSA was featured to highlight the urgent need and opportunities to improve public and ocean health by addressing sewage pollution. The OctoGroup supports open communications that connect ocean professionals to knowledge and networks that empower conservationists and resource managers to apply best practices worldwide.
Education and Outreach
Are there secrets inside your poo?
Next to Partners at Water Environment Federation and sewage pals Institute for Systems Biology and Rain Incubator, OSA hosted its first in-person outreach event to learn about the secrets and science of our fine feces from author Bryn Nelson and his recent book, ‘Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure.’ His book covers how human waste holds potent medicine, sustainable power as biofuel, and even natural fertilizer to restore the world’s depleted lands.
Supporting Local Initiatives
OSA and Partners at Earth Justice, The Nature Conservancy, Stony Brook University, Surfrider Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Society served as coalition members in support of New York state’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act.
Passing with 70%, New York voters are driving progress toward a more just, equitable and inclusive future.
This initiative dedicates $4.2B to improving public health by protecting drinking water and supporting upgrades to stormwater infrastructure alongside habitat conservation.