Heal The Ocean
Heal The Ocean
Want to make a donation using Daffy?
Lower your income taxes with a charitable deduction this year when you donate to this non-profit via Daffy.
Do you work for Heal The Ocean? Learn more here.
By donating on this page you are making an irrevocable contribution to Daffy Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, and a subsequent donation recommendation to the charity listed above, subject to our Member Agreement. Contributions are generally eligible for a charitable tax-deduction and a yearly consolidated receipt will be provided by Daffy. Processing fees may be applied and will reduce the value available to send to the end charity. The recipient organizations have not provided permission for this listing and have not reviewed the content.
Donations to organizations are distributed as soon as the donation is approved and the funds are available. In the rare event that Daffy is unable to fulfill the donation request to this charity, you will be notified and given the opportunity to choose another charity. This may occur if the charity is unresponsive or if the charity is no longer in good standing with regulatory authorities.
About this organization
Mission
Heal the Ocean focuses on wastewater infrastructure – sewers and septic systems – as well as ocean dumping practices that have contributed to ocean pollution. We are focused on Santa Barbara County, but our methods are now serving as a model for other coastal communities across the country.
About
HEAL THE OCEAN HIRES ENGINEERS, EXPERTS, RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, GIS MAPPERS AND UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES TO PRODUCE REPORTS AND TO GIVE US TEST RESULTS AS WELL AS BLUEPRINTS FOR WWTPS. WE HAVE FACILITATED STATE GRANTS FOR WASTEWATER FACILITIES TO UPGRADE TO RECYCLED WATER. WE PERFORM COST FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR UPGRADED WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT METHODS. WE HAVE CONDUCTED DNA TESTS IN WATERSHEDS AND NOW COORDINATE WITH UNIVERSITY (UCSB BREN SCHOOL) MICROBIOLOGY LABS. WE WORK WITH CITY, COUNTY AND STATE AGENCIES TO INITIATE NEW PROGRAMS OF WASTEWATER UPGRADE.OUR APPROACH TO SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE WORK WITH (NOT AGAINST) COUNTIES, CITIES, AGENCIES, WASTEWATER AND WATER DISTRICTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY. WE ADVOCATE FOR RATE INCREASES WHERE NEEDED, AND ALSO ACCESS STATE FUNDS TO HELP UPGRADE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND/OR HELP HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS TO PUBLIC WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. WE HAVE SERVED ON THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRWM) STEERING COMMITTEE SINCE 2010, AND IN THIS CAPACITY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE.I. SEPTIC SYSTEMS:1) SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC-TO-SEWERS. IN 2018 HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PULL IN THE LAST 3 SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOLDOUTS WHO HAVE NOT CONNECTED TO THE PUBLIC SEWER BUILT AS PART OF THE SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT, WHICH, WHEN FINISHED ON SEPT. 4, 2014, RESULTED IN 7 MILES OF BEACH (172 HOMES) BEING RID OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN AREAS OF SAND AND HIGH GROUNDWATER. THE 3 PARCELS ARE ON THE VENTURA COUNTY SIDE OF THE RINCON, SO HEAL THE OCEAN CONTACTED THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL BOARD (REGION 1) WHICH HAS JURISDICTION OVER WATER BODIES IN VENTURA. AFTER URGING THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL BOARD TO TAKE ACTION, THE BOARD ISSUED A "REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT REPORT OF WASTE DISCHARGE OR TECHNICAL REPORT FOR CONNECTING TO MUNICIPAL SANITARY SEWER FOR THE SEPTIC SYSTEM AND RESIDENCE" AT RINCON. WE EXPECT TO SEE THE FINAL THREE HOMES CONNECT TO PUBLIC SEWER IN 2019 AS A RESULT OF THIS BOARD ORDER.2) TMDL WAIVERS. THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD GAVE NOTICE TO HEAL THE OCEAN IN FEBRUARY 2018 THAT IT WAS PLANNING TO APPROVE 5-YEAR WAIVERS & TMDL (TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD) LIST AMENDMENTS TO EXTEND TIMELINES FOR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REGULATIONS UNDER AB 885, THE SEPTIC SYSTEM LAW AUTHORED BY THEN-ASSEMBLYWOMAN HANNAH-BETH JACKSON IN 2000. THE REGULATIONS UNDER AB 885 WERE FOUGHT FOR BY HEAL THE OCEAN AND HEAL THE BAY IN 2012. ON APRIL 5, 2018, OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED OUR OBJECTIONS TO MANY OF THE PROPOSED NEW DEADLINES FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS OPERATING IN WATERS IDENTIFIED AS POLLUTED FROM ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM (OWTS). ON FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018, JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE STATE BOARD HEARING ON APRIL 17, WE RECEIVED AN ENTIRELY NEW STAFF REPORT THAT INCORPORATED CHANGES THAT ADDRESSED NEARLY ALL OUR CONCERNS. 3) BEACH CLUB ROAD SEPTIC-TO-SEWER. BEACH CLUB ROAD IS AN ENCLAVE OF 28 HOMES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT, LOCATED ON THE OCEAN AND IN A CREEK AREA WITH HIGH GROUNDWATER. THOSE HOMEOWNERS PULLED BACK FROM THE BIGGER PROJECT WITH LEGAL FIGHTS BROKE OUT, BUT WERE STILL INCLUDED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS, AND AS SUCH, ARE STILL COVERED BY CEQA IF THEY WERE TO HOOK UP TO THE PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM. IN 2018 HEAL THE OCEAN RESUMED COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY REGARDING CONVERSION FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. HEAL THE OCEAN HAS DEVELOPED AN OUTREACH PLAN TO COMMUNICATE THE HOMEOWNERS AND WORKING TO SET UP INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS WITH THE CARPENTARIA SANITARY DISTRICT.4) SANTA YNEZ HORIZON/STADIUM SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT. IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN HIRED DUDEK ENVIRONMENTAL TO SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE STATE FOR A LOW-INTERESTING REVOLVING LOAN TO HELP PAY FOR A $6 MILLION SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT FOR 450+ HOMES OVERLYING A GROUNDWATER BASIN USED FOR DRINKING WATER. IN 2018, MANY HOMEOWNERS CONNECTED TO PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM. II. UPGRADING WASTEWATER TO RECYCLED WATER:IN 2018 HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED EDUCATING, RESEARCHING, ADVOCATING AND FACILITATING THE ADVANCEMENT OF TURNING WASTE(D) WATER INTO RECYCLED WATER. WHEN PROPOSITION 1 FUNDING BECAME AVAILABLE FOR FACILITIES PLANNING GRANTS TO CONVERT WWTPS TO RECYCLED WATER PLANTS, WE APPROACHED THE FOLLOWING WATER/WASTEWATER DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE: A) GOLETA POTABLE REUSE FACILITIES PLAN: HEAL THE OCEAN HELPED ESTABLISH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOLETA WATER DISTRICT (GWD), GOLETA SANITARY DISTRICT TO WORK WITH RMC WATER & ENVIRONMENT, SANTA MONICA, TO DEVELOP A GRANT APPLICATION FOR A POTABLE REUSE FACILITIES PLAN. THE DRAFT PLAN WAS FINISHED IN MAY 2017, WENT THROUGH PUBLIC REVIEW IN JUNE. WHEN COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL ADD 2,000 ACRE FEET PER YEAR OF "DROUGHT-PROOF" WATER SUPPLY TO GOLETA. B) SANTA YNEZ RECYCLED WATER FACILITIES PLAN: HEAL THE OCEAN ALSO BROUGHT RMC WATER TO THE SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (SYCSD) TO HELP THE DISTRICT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A FACILITIES PLANNING GRANT FOR A RECYCLED WATER FACILITY. THE PLAN WAS FINISHED IN FEBRUARY 2017 AND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. C) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ONE WATER: CITY OF SANTA BARBARA APPEALED TO HEAL THE OCEAN IN 2017 FOR HELP WITH EDUCATION OF BOTH PUBLIC AND CITY COUNCIL ON THE CONCEPT OF "ONE WATER" - A PLAN TO UPGRADE ITS RECYCLED WATER PLANT TO HIGHEST PROCESSING LEVEL, PIPE TO LAURO RESERVOIR TO BE MIXED WITH DESALINATED WATER, AS WELL AS OTHER WATER SOURCES (CACHUMA), THEN THE ONE-WATER MIX WOULD BE TREATED IN THE DECATUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN 2018 HEAL THE OCEAN APPROACHED THE CITY WATER COMMISSION WITH THE IDEA OF RENAMING THE EL ESTERO WASTEWATER PLANT TO REFLECT ITS ROLE AS A WATER RESOURCES FACILITY. IN EARLY 2019 EL ESTERO WWTP WAS RENAMED EL ESTERO WATER RESOURCE CENTER. THIS DEMONSTRATES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE WASTEWATER PLANT IS A FOCAL POINT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR SANTA BARBARA. D) MONTECITO SANITARY DISTRICT. HEAL THE OCEAN APPEARED BEFORE A BOARD MEETING OF THE MONTECITO SANITARY DISTRICT TO LEND 100% SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRICT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RECYCLED WATER PROJECT THAT WILL INSTALL ON MSD PROPERTY A MICRO PULSE FLOW REVERSE OSMOSIS SKID. IDE TECHNOLOGY, BUILDER OF DESALINATION PLANTS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATIONS AROUND THE WORLD (AND WHICH REBUILT THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA'S CHARLES E. MEYER DESALINATION PLANT) - WILL BUILD THE MSD PROJECT, WHICH, WHEN FINISHED, WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 6,400 GALLONS PER DAY OF TITLE 22+ RECYCLED WATER FOR ONSITE REUSE BY THE DISTRICT. TITLE 22 "PLUS" IS A BETTER QUALITY THAN STANDARD "PURPLE PIPE" WATER, AND MSD PLANS TO TEST THE WATER ON LANDSCAPING - FLOWERS, LAWNS, HEDGES - AT THE SANTA BARBARA CEMETERY. HEAL THE OCEAN HAS WORKED FOR YEARS ON WAYS TO HELP MSD GET TOGETHER WITH MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT ON A JOINT STATE-SUPPORTED PROJECT TO UPGRADE THE MSD WASTEWATER PLANT TO A RECYCLED WATER PLANT, TO PRODUCE WATER FOR IRRIGATION (AND THEREBY SAVING HUNDREDS OF GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER FOR ITS INTENDED USE). E) COASTAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGE. HEAL THE OCEAN RELEASED A STUDY OF COASTAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGES IN SEPTEMBER 2018. THE INVENTORY OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGES TO CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATER BODIES, AN ONLINE INTERACTIVE STUDY THAT DOCUMENTS THE 417 BILLION GALLONS OF TREATED MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGED AT FIFTY-SEVEN COASTAL LOCATIONS. THE STUDY, LED BY PROJECT MANAGER JAMES HAWKINS, MPP, INVOLVED A MULTIYEAR EFFORT TO COLLECT, REVIEW, AND ANALYZE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL VOLUME OF TREATED MUNICIPAL EFFLUENT DISCHARGED TO CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL WATER BODIES. HEAL THE OCEAN ESTIMATES THAT THE REUSE OF 85 PERCENT OF THESE COASTAL DISCHARGES COULD MEET ALMOST 30 PERCENT OF WATER NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL CITIES. IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND TO HELP ADVANCE THE STATE'S WATER POLICY EFFORTS, HEAL THE OCEAN RELEASED ITS DATABASE OF DISCHARGERS AND FLOW DATA THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF THE STUDY. D) BRINE WASTE. IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN PUBLISHED A WHITE PAPER ON BRINE WASTE ("ISSUES, DISPOSAL, AND REDUCTION") WHICH LAYS OUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF 100% RECYCLING - THE LEFTOVER SLUDGE FROM DESALINATION AND WATER RECYCLING. THE BRINE WASTE PAPER PRESENTS INFORMATION ON HOW BRINE WASTE IS CREATED AND THE PROBLEMS OF DISPOSAL, AND ALSO TELLS HOW HOMEOWNERS CAN DO THEIR PART TO REDUCE BRINE (DON'T USE WATER SOFTENERS, WHICH ADD TONS OF CHLORIDE SALTS TO THE WASTEWATER STREAM). IN 2018 THIS INFORMATIONAL PUBLICATION WAS CIRCULATED TO RECYCLED WATER AGENCIES.
Interesting data from their 2019 990 filing
The purpose of the non-profit is listed in the filing as “Heal the ocean focuses on wastewater infrastructure - sewers and septic systems for which we hire consultants to access state grant funds to help wwtps upgrade to recycled water production instead of ocean dumping, as well as help whole communities abandon septic systems in environmentally sensitive areas.”.
When discussing its operations, they were characterized as: “Heal the ocean focuses on wastewater infrastructure - wastewater treatment plants (wwtps) and septic systems for which we hire consultants to access state grant funds to help wwtps upgrade to recycled water production to limit ocean dumping, as well as help whole communities abandon septic systems in environmentally sensitive areas.”.
- The non-profit's legally reported state of operation is CA.
- The filing states that the non-profit's address in the year 2019 is PO BOX 90106, SANTA BARBARA, CA, 93190.
- The form submitted by the non-profit for 2019 shows a total of 7 employees.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $250,000 and $500,000.
- Revenue is between $250,000 and $500,000.
- Revenue less expenses is $85,572.
- The organization has 6 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1998.
- The organization pays $213,025 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $35,080 in fundraising expenses.