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Waste News
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Monday, January 31, 2005
Volume 10 Publication number: 22
News
Coalition wants action on blending; Local sewer agencies support EPA proposal
Bruce Geiselman
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. EPA 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 one association backing the plan.