The bipartisan amendment to stop increased sewage dumping would
block EPA from finalizing a proposal that allows an increase in
the use of "blending", a process where partially treated waste
is dumped into lakes, rivers and streams.

Currently under the Clean Water Act, partially treated sewage
may be released only in a dire emergency, such as a hurricane.
Otherwise the process known as blending is illegal, and waste
treatment must be carried out in three phases -- first screening
for solids in the waste, second phase removing most of the
viruses, parasites and other pollutants, and the third phase
treating sewage for bacteria.

If the EPA proposal is finalized, anytime it rains or during
snow melts, sewage treatment facilities would be allowed to
forgo the second phase of water treatment, which neutralizes
viruses and pathogens in the wastewater and aids in the
effectiveness of the third phase of treatment.

Supporters of the Bush Administration blending plan, including
sewage treatment plant operators, say that blending will fill
the gap in inconsistencies in sewage enforcement. But public
health advocates find this unacceptable. "Everyone lives
downstream of somebody's sewage treatment," says Nancy Stoner,
clean water director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
"So we all face a threat to our health, economy and environment
if EPA lets wastewater plants routinely discharge largely
untreated sewage into our lakes, rivers and streams." [1]

The EPA proposal also helps treatment facilities skirt the cost
of upgrading, a costly affair, especially since funds for
modernization of sewage treatment plants received a substantial
cut in the 2005 EPA budget. [2]

The partially treated sewage would flow directly into lakes,
rivers and streams -- carrying with it deadly parasites, viruses
and bacteria, including dysentery, cholera, e coli, hepatitis,
and gastroenteritis.

The Center for Disease Control reports that each year the health
of 8 million people is adversely affected by water contaminated
with sewage waste, and 900 people die each year from illnesses
related to exposure. [3]

Under the proposed rules, exposure levels will increase if
blending becomes regular practice. Dr. Joan Rose, a Michigan
State University professor, explained that there is a 50% chance
of getting sick from swimming in an area adjacent to a sewage
output point where only the first and third stage of treatment
are used, whereas the risk is less than .1% from swimming in an
area where second stage treatment and disinfection is used. [4]

In the long run, blending has costly financial consequences as
well: loss of revenue from beach closings, increased costs for
treating drinking water, public health and medical expenses, and
harm to fish and wildlife.

Even EPA's own water chief, Ben Grumbles, voiced doubts about
blending: "The basic point, which is at the heart and soul of
the Clean Water Act, is that dilution is not the solution to
pollution. You need to treat the sewage. Blending isn't the
solution." [5]

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TAKE ACTION
Contact members of Congress and ask them to protect the Clean
Water Act.

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SOURCES:
[1] Natural Resources Defense Council fact sheet.
[2] "Sewage Blending Policy," Clean Water Action fact sheet, Jan.
2005.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] NRDC release, May 11, 2005.