Bush Plan Would Allow More Sewage in Nation's Fresh Water

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Fri, 13 May 2005 13:40:05 GMT

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Bush Plan Would Allow More Sewage in Nation's Fresh Water

 

 

May 13, 2005 | Back Issues

 

Bush Plan Would Allow More Sewage in Nation's Fresh Water

 

A Bush Administration proposal to routinely allow partially treated

sewage into America's waterways could face a roadblock in Congress

next week, when the House of Representatives is expected to vote next

week on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget. Included is

the opportunity to support the Save Our Water From Sewage Act.

 

The bipartisan amendment to stop increased sewage dumping would block

EPA from finalizing a proposal that allows an increase in the use of

" blending " , a process where partially treated waste is dumped into

lakes, rivers and streams.

 

Currently under the Clean Water Act, partially treated sewage may be

released only in a dire emergency, such as a hurricane. Otherwise the

process known as blending is illegal, and waste treatment must be

carried out in three phases -- first screening for solids in the

waste, second phase removing most of the viruses, parasites and other

pollutants, and the third phase treating sewage for bacteria.

 

If the EPA proposal is finalized, anytime it rains or during snow

melts, sewage treatment facilities would be allowed to forgo the

second phase of water treatment, which neutralizes viruses and

pathogens in the wastewater and aids in the effectiveness of the third

phase of treatment.

 

Supporters of the Bush Administration blending plan, including sewage

treatment plant operators, say that blending will fill the gap in

inconsistencies in sewage enforcement. But public health advocates

find this unacceptable. " Everyone lives downstream of somebody's

sewage treatment, " says Nancy Stoner, clean water director at the

Natural Resources Defense Council. " So we all face a threat to our

health, economy and environment if EPA lets wastewater plants

routinely discharge largely untreated sewage into our lakes, rivers

and streams. " [1]

 

The EPA proposal also helps treatment facilities skirt the cost of

upgrading, a costly affair, especially since funds for modernization

of sewage treatment plants received a substantial cut in the 2005 EPA

budget. [2]

 

The partially treated sewage would flow directly into lakes, rivers

and streams -- carrying with it deadly parasites, viruses and

bacteria, including dysentery, cholera, e coli, hepatitis, and

gastroenteritis.

 

The Center for Disease Control reports that each year the health of 8

million people is adversely affected by water contaminated with sewage

waste, and 900 people die each year from illnesses related to

exposure. [3]

 

Under the proposed rules, exposure levels will increase if blending

becomes regular practice. Dr. Joan Rose, a Michigan State University

professor, explained that there is a 50% chance of getting sick from

swimming in an area adjacent to a sewage output point where only the

first and third stage of treatment are used, whereas the risk is less

than .1% from swimming in an area where second stage treatment and

disinfection is used. [4]

 

In the long run, blending has costly financial consequences as well:

loss of revenue from beach closings, increased costs for treating

drinking water, public health and medical expenses, and harm to fish

and wildlife.

 

Even EPA's own water chief, Ben Grumbles, voiced doubts about

blending: " The basic point, which is at the heart and soul of the

Clean Water Act, is that dilution is not the solution to pollution.

You need to treat the sewage. Blending isn't the solution. " [5]

 

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TAKE ACTION

Contact members of Congress and ask them to protect the Clean Water Act.

http://ga3.org/ct/p7zkGk91lRxd/

 

 

 

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SOURCES:

[1] Natural Resources Defense Council fact sheet.

http://ga3.org/ct/Q1zkGk91lRxf/

[2] Sewage Blending Policy, Clean Water Action fact sheet, Jan. 2005.

http://ga3.org/ct/ppzkGk91lRxc/

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] NRDC release, May 11, 2005.

http://ga3.org/ct/PpzkGk91lRxr/

 

 

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