Editors Contact: Lynn Laws

Communications Director

Iowa Environmental Council 

515-244-1194, x13

[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

 

March 8, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Clean Water Not so Expensive After all

 

An engineering study has found that the cost to comply with water 
quality rules could cost less than half of what was previously estimated.

 

In 2005, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) developed new 
water quality rules that would bring Iowa into compliance with federal 
law and clean up wastewater entering streams and rivers. The impact of 
this rule making action will be tighter pollution limits for an 
estimated 411 wastewater treatment facilities. Facilities will need to 
be upgraded for ammonia removal and/or disinfection of bacteria. Excess 
ammonia harms aquatic life; excess bacteria can cause serious health 
problems in humans.

 

An estimate of the cost of implementing the new rules was developed in 
August, 2005 in a Fiscal Impact Statement prepared by IDNR. They 
estimated total costs for the 411 facilities to come into compliance 
would range between $790,266,000 and $955,879,000.

 

This month, a civil engineering firm, Foth & Van Dyke, was retained by 
the Iowa Environmental Council to evaluate lower cost alternatives to 
achieve compliance with the new regulations and see what the impact 
would be on the overall cost. In a report, released today, they found 
that modifying existing processes rather than installing new processes 
can be less costly to install and operate, and would bring total costs 
to $363,651,000, half of what it would cost if these methods were not used.

 

Rich Leopold, executive director for the Iowa Environmental Council, 
says the DNR estimates are largely based on having to build new 
mechanical systems to improve wastewater treatment. That's not 
necessary, says Leopold.

 

"Many communities may not need to install brand new processes. 
Retrofitting existing facilities may achieve the same results at a much 
lower cost. The study proves this." Leopold said.

 

Leopold says the processes outlined in the study are not used widely in 
Iowa now, but are in other states.

 

"We know they [the processes] work. They're low-cost, low-tech, proven 
technologies."

 

Leopold says costs could be even less if alternative technologies such 
as fill and draw lagoon systems are considered. Alternative processes 
and their costs will be investigated in a future, second-phase of the 
study. 

 

The Foth and Van Dyke report is available online at 
http://www.iaenvironment.org <http://www.iaenvironment.org/>.

 


-- 
  ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Deborah Neustadt
Des Moines, IA
Sierra Club
Water Committee, Chair
Wildlife and Endangered Species Committee, Member
Iowa Chapter, Executive Committee Member, Political Chair


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]