IOWA'S WATER WOES Last Sunday, February 12th, the headlines of the Des Moines Register read: 'NO CLEAR SOLUTIONS TO STATE'S TAINTED WATER'
This article by Perry Beeman/Register staff writer goes on to say that recreation and more businesses would come to the state if we had better water quality.
"Many IOWA rivers are seriously polluted - dying before their time- and environmental rules that would force a massive new cleanup effort promise to affect IOWAN's pocketbooks, river outings and fishing trips…
"Rules passed in January by state environmental regulators - after eight years of debate - set new limits on pollutants such as bacteria, which can threaten the health of people and animals; and AMMONIA, WHICH IS TOXIC TO FISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS…
"…state lawmakers began discussing a bill that would block the changes. The rules come THREE DECADES AFTER THE 1972 FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT DEMANDED THAT ALL RIVERS BE PROTECTED FOR RECREATION AND AQUATIC LIFE, UNLESS STUDIES SHOW THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. Since that act became law, IOWA has bowed to pressure from city sewage-treatment operators who maintained the changes would cost too much. Consequently, the state IS ONE OF THE LAST IN THE NATION to protect waters so they are 'fishable and swimmable,' as required."
As we can all surmise, attaining cleaner water will take time, new ideas, and MONEY. "…90 % OF THE POLLUTION IS COMING FROM FARMS AND YARDS UNREGULATED BY THE NEW RULES….
"…'ignoring this duty is not an option', IOWA DNR DIRECTOR JEFF VONK wrote to lawmakers last month before the legislative session began.
"THE RULES WOULD AFFECT ANIMAL CONFINEMENTS AND FEEDLOTS, SOME OF WHICH FACE LEGAL ACTIONS FOR FISH KILLS AND STREAM POLLUTION THAT OCCURRED DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, VONK SAID. The rules would not affect grain farms and other agriculture operations…"
SUSAN HEATHCOTE is one of nine appointed by the governor to sit on the state's ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION. She " began pushing the state eight years ago to revise its standards to comply with the Clean Water Act, the linchpin of the Federal government's river-cleaning apparatus."
It will take an act of our state legislature to start to fix this. Maybe federal grants can be obtained. So start with your legislator to insure the state of IOWA starts to uphold the Clean Water Act. In Eastern IOWA, you can contact SENATOR FRANK WOOD, D-ELDRIDGE at frank.wood@legis.state.ia.us or he can be called at 515-281-3371. Senator Wood is co-chair of the Senate sub-committee that is debating Senate Study Bill 3069. It proposes to block most of the new rules. Also co-chairing is Senator Mary Lundby, R-Marion, who can be contacted at mary.lundby@legis.state.ia.us
To view the entire bill, go to www.legis.state.ia.us
For information on the rules approved by the IOWA Environmental Protection Commission, see www.iowadnr.com
If you would like to read the entire Des Moines Register article, see www.DesMoinesRegister.com
Now don't forget …and remind your loved ones, too… CPR:
CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE