Comments on: EPA Discloses New Actions Against Polluters at ‘Poisoned Waters’ Documentary Preview http://www.ecoficial.com/epa-discloses-new-actions-against-polluters-at-poisoned-waters-documentary-preview-397/ your source for ecological news Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:56:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Peter Maier http://www.ecoficial.com/epa-discloses-new-actions-against-polluters-at-poisoned-waters-documentary-preview-397/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Peter Maier Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:14:28 +0000 http://www.ecoficial.com/?p=397#comment-103 EPA never implemented the Clean Water Act as was intended and promised, mainly because of a worldwide incorrectly used pollution test, developed in 1920. As early as in the seventies EPA had problems with enforcing the pollution laws, as the test showed that sewage treatment plants were out of compliance with their permits, while in fact they treated the sewage better than was required by their permits. In 1984 EPA acknowledged the problems, but in stead of correcting the test, it allowed the addition of a special chemical to the test, that specifically kills those bacteria that feed on nitrogenous (urine and protein) waste and by allowing this, not only 60% of the treatment plants got into compliance, but at the same time EPA officially ignored the pollution caused by nitrogenous waste and allowed open water to be used as giant urinals. This, while this waste, just like fecal waste, not only exerts an oxygen demand, but also is a fertilizer for algae and thus contributes to eutrophication of open waters often resulting in red tides and dead zones. Everybody involved, including the environmental groups were aware, but as people at EPA’s head quarters in Washington D.C. told a water attorney (1987 High Country News article) that the test and regulations should be corrected, but also told him that such correction would be impossible because it would require a re-education and re-tooling of an entire industry, that is happy with the status quo. The fact, that much better sewage treatment was not only available, but actually at lower cost, may also have been a factor. Most involved in water pollution have down played the impact of faulty testing and have been successful in doing so, but nature can not be fooled, as we now see what excessive algae growth is causing, while at the same time EPA is covering up again by initiating TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) programs diverting the attention to storm waters and excessive fertilizer runoffs from farmers. Furthermore most people have no idea what impact this faulty test had on the designs of sewage treatment plants, as it still is not possible to evaluate the real performance and what its waste loading is on receiving water bodies, while it is also possible that many plants were designed to treat the wrong waste in sewage. During the past 30 years the media, including the public media, has shied away from even discussing this issue, so we’ll have to wait and see with what type of program they will come this time. The financial establishment and the media successfully covered up liar-loans and we now witness the results. Sadly the same has been going on in the environmental field and hopefully now something will happen. The fact that it takes 30 years to correct an essential test should be unacceptable. EPA never implemented the Clean Water Act as was intended and promised, mainly because of a worldwide incorrectly used pollution test, developed in 1920.
As early as in the seventies EPA had problems with enforcing the pollution laws, as the test showed that sewage treatment plants were out of compliance with their permits, while in fact they treated the sewage better than was required by their permits.

In 1984 EPA acknowledged the problems, but in stead of correcting the test, it allowed the addition of a special chemical to the test, that specifically kills those bacteria that feed on nitrogenous (urine and protein) waste and by allowing this, not only 60% of the treatment plants got into compliance, but at the same time EPA officially ignored the pollution caused by nitrogenous waste and allowed open water to be used as giant urinals. This, while this waste, just like fecal waste, not only exerts an oxygen demand, but also is a fertilizer for algae and thus contributes to eutrophication of open waters often resulting in red tides and dead zones.

Everybody involved, including the environmental groups were aware, but as people at EPA’s head quarters in Washington D.C. told a water attorney (1987 High Country News article) that the test and regulations should be corrected, but also told him that such correction would be impossible because it would require a re-education and re-tooling of an entire industry, that is happy with the status quo. The fact, that much better sewage treatment was not only available, but actually at lower cost, may also have been a factor.

Most involved in water pollution have down played the impact of faulty testing and have been successful in doing so, but nature can not be fooled, as we now see what excessive algae growth is causing, while at the same time EPA is covering up again by initiating TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) programs diverting the attention to storm waters and excessive fertilizer runoffs from farmers.

Furthermore most people have no idea what impact this faulty test had on the designs of sewage treatment plants, as it still is not possible to evaluate the real performance and what its waste loading is on receiving water bodies, while it is also possible that many plants were designed to treat the wrong waste in sewage.

During the past 30 years the media, including the public media, has shied away from even discussing this issue, so we’ll have to wait and see with what type of program they will come this time.

The financial establishment and the media successfully covered up liar-loans and we now witness the results. Sadly the same has been going on in the environmental field and hopefully now something will happen. The fact that it takes 30 years to correct an essential test should be unacceptable.

]]>