Clean Water Advocacy - Newsroom - AMSA in the News
Sewer Groups Press EPA To Finalize ´03
Wastewater Blending Policy
By Bruce Geiselman
Jan. 25 -- A coalition of 20 groups representing the interests of local and
state governments and sewer agencies has written a letter urging the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to finalize its wastewater blending policy
proposed on Nov. 7, 2003.
The letter -- signed by groups including the Association of Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies, the National Association of Towns and Townships, the National
League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors -- accused environmental
groups of mischaracterizing the EPA´s blending policy as an "environmental
rollback."
In its letter to EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt, the coalition argues that
blending is an essential component of local sewer agencies´ strategies for
dealing with heavy rains and snowmelt.
"The truth is that the blending policy only allows discharges that fully meet
water quality standards set out in a public utility´s [Clean Water Act] permit,"
the letter states. "Furthermore, blending protects public utility infrastructure
and prevents sewer backups into homes and businesses."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering a proposal known as
sewage blending at the request of wastewater plant operators who have complained
that their systems become overwhelmed during heavy rainstorms. Blending allows
the system operators to mix partially treated wastewater into the discharge to
prevent systems from involuntary overflows resulting in the release of raw
sewage.
Wastewater systems across the country need expensive upgrades to correct
overflow problems, but they lack funding. Federal estimates of funding
shortfalls range from $9 billion to $12 billion annually.
Existing regulations allow blending, but the language needs clarification,
according to the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.