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http://cbs4. com/local/ ocean.miami. dade.2.656266. html
http://tinyurl. com/yqna9m
State May Ban Dumping Waste Water In Ocean
Feb 17, 2008 12:00 pm US/Eastern
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ¯ Looking to the future, state lawmakers will
consider a proposal this week that would ban cities or counties from
dumping millions of gallons of treated sewage a day into the Atlantic
Ocean.
Currently, Miami Dade, Broward and south Palm Beach counties are the
only municipalities in the state that pump treated waste water into
the ocean; collectively about 300 million gallons a day.
Tuesday, the state Senate's environmental committee will review draft
legislation that would give the three counties a decade to upgrade
their treatment facilities from minimal to advanced treatment. If the
measure is approved, CBS4 news partners at the Miami Herald report it
would end ocean discharges by 2025.
Governor Charlie Crist and state regulators applaud the push and side
with environmentalists, divers and some scientists who believe that
treated sewage has already damaged reefs, marine life and beaches.
Miami Dade and Broward counties have obstinately opposed earlier
proposals to end ocean dumping saying it would be too costly and
there is no hard evidence that the treated sewage has had an ill
effect on either the marine life or coral reefs.
The proposal, which will undergo debate this week, bans any new ocean
outfall pipes statewide, caps ocean dumping at its current levels and
establishes a 2018 deadline to install advanced treatment systems. In
the following 7 years, the pipes would be shutdown for regular use
and could only be used as emergency back ups for a limited time
basis.
Miami-Dade is already committed to $1.4 billion in projects that
would recycle and reuse 40 percent of its wastewater over the next 20
years. The county's Water and Sewage Department said the proposal is
approved, they would have to spend more than $2 billion more to meet
the states demand, the cost of which would be passed on to customers
who could see their water bills double.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news
partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
http://tinyurl. com/yqna9m
State May Ban Dumping Waste Water In Ocean
Feb 17, 2008 12:00 pm US/Eastern
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ¯ Looking to the future, state lawmakers will
consider a proposal this week that would ban cities or counties from
dumping millions of gallons of treated sewage a day into the Atlantic
Ocean.
Currently, Miami Dade, Broward and south Palm Beach counties are the
only municipalities in the state that pump treated waste water into
the ocean; collectively about 300 million gallons a day.
Tuesday, the state Senate's environmental committee will review draft
legislation that would give the three counties a decade to upgrade
their treatment facilities from minimal to advanced treatment. If the
measure is approved, CBS4 news partners at the Miami Herald report it
would end ocean discharges by 2025.
Governor Charlie Crist and state regulators applaud the push and side
with environmentalists, divers and some scientists who believe that
treated sewage has already damaged reefs, marine life and beaches.
Miami Dade and Broward counties have obstinately opposed earlier
proposals to end ocean dumping saying it would be too costly and
there is no hard evidence that the treated sewage has had an ill
effect on either the marine life or coral reefs.
The proposal, which will undergo debate this week, bans any new ocean
outfall pipes statewide, caps ocean dumping at its current levels and
establishes a 2018 deadline to install advanced treatment systems. In
the following 7 years, the pipes would be shutdown for regular use
and could only be used as emergency back ups for a limited time
basis.
Miami-Dade is already committed to $1.4 billion in projects that
would recycle and reuse 40 percent of its wastewater over the next 20
years. The county's Water and Sewage Department said the proposal is
approved, they would have to spend more than $2 billion more to meet
the states demand, the cost of which would be passed on to customers
who could see their water bills double.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news
partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
