|
Sanity Sewer Overflow There were 40,000 discharges of untreated sewage containing bacteria, viruses, fecal matter into waterways across the country in 2000 alone. Sanitary sewer overflows are a serious threat to public health and the environment. In January 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced regulations requiring sewer operators to control discharges of raw and inadequately treated sewage and to warn the public as well as public health authorities when sewer overflows occur. These regulations were developed as consensus recommendations of federal, state, and local officials, sewer operators, public health authorities, and the environmental community. However, thanks to the Bush administration, more than a year and a half later, the regulations remain in limbo. Sanitary sewers carry wastes from homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants to sewage treatment plants. When they overflow, bacteria and viruses, fecal matter, untreated industrial wastes, toilet paper, and a host of other wastes are dumped into beaches, waterways, basements and streets. Sewer overflows cause gastrointestinal illness, beach closings, fish kills, and shellfish bed closures. Exposure to a sewer overflow can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even life threatening illnesses, like hepatitis and dysentery. U.S. EPA estimates that between 1.8 and 3.5 million Americans get sick every year from swimming in waters contaminated by sanitary sewer overflows. EPA estimated the cost of implementing the consensus regulations at only $1.92 per U.S. household per year. They would require greater prevention of sewer overflows, prompt identification of and response to minimize overflows when they do occur, enhanced public notification of overflows, and forgiveness of overflows that occur in extreme weather events. Yet EPA has still not taken any action on these regulations and is reportedly considering a number of changes that would allow increased discharges of untreated and minimally treated sewage into our homes, streets, beaches and waterways.
Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
