The Failure of the EPA
The Clean Water Act was created to improve the quality of our water, but this video shows how the EPA is failing. The funding to support and assure compliance by local sewer districts continues to decrease. From storm runoff to dumping industrial toxins in our sewer systems, our rivers are in danger.
Southside Sewer and Water District
Successful Meeting
The August 24 meeting of the Pend Oreille Basin Commission (AKA – Lakes Commission) was a success. The community turn out was strong. There were not enough chairs in the room, more needed to be brought in.
The first topic on the agenda was the possible construction of a large sewer plant on the river to serve the planned regional sewer system. If this system was to be developed, it is expected to be at least ten years in the future. The public response at the meeting to this river discharge plant was strongly negative.
The next agenda item was the Southside Sewer and Water District (SSWS) board resubmitting their plans to build the river discharge plant they were hoping to build three years ago. The Commission did not endorse the plant. The asked the SSWS board to return if they did decide to build a plant. Everyone from the audience was opposed to a discharge plant.
Possible environmentally solution
Clean Rivers at the end of this discussion pointed out to the SSWS board and the Pend Oreille Basin Commission that there were more options available other than river discharge. Clean Rivers introduced the room to Coherent Resources, Inc. from Cheney, WA as a possible solution to SSWS needing to expand. Due to Coherent Resources’ success remediating polluted ponds using sustainable technology, sewer districts have pursued their technology to solve their problems.
The people at Coherent Resources agreed to doing a performance arrangement with SSWS – if their technology does not work, the district does not pay. Linda Mitchell, the vice-chair strongly encouraged the SSWS board to pursue the Coherent Resources solution.
A meeting is being planned in late September for all parties to meet at the current district facility to evaluate and plan how to implement this new technology.
If this solution works, it could mean no infrastructure changes, no building of a plant and maybe no need to purchase more land. Essentially this technology would enhance what the current system does.
Media Coverage
The pre and post media attention was significant concerning the Pend Oreille Basin Commission meeting and river discharge. There were at least seven different news stories on the possible SSWS building of a plant to dump its sewer effluence into the River
The Daily Bee had a good review of the meeting.
What is next?
Please continue to track the developments concerning SSWS and the possible regional plant. We encourage you to maintain your support of environmentally sound solutions to our sewer problems with your elective representatives and the media.
Also, please support the SSWS board in their decision to seriously investigate a sustainable solution.
Thank you for supporting us in keeping our rivers clean.
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