EPA Considers Steps to Reduce Sewage Problems

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to address a long-standing problem: the effects of aging sewage pipes. 

When it rains, even a little bit, some old sewage pipes that carry rainwater and sewage get overwhelmed and dump untreated sewage into rivers and streams.  This can affect beaches and shellfish beds. Sometimes the sewage even backs up into people’s basements. Even single system pipes, if they’re in disrepair, can allow stormwater to leak in, causing overflows. The EPA is considering modifying existing regulations for publicly-owned treatment systems. Such as whether to require the systems to notify the public  immediately after a sewage overflow. And how the agency should address the problems that occur during peak rain fall. 

Margaret Miner of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut says the state needs, what she calls, both a carrot and a stick from the federal government to update sewage systems.

“We need to have significant penalties when a system repeatedly fails and dumps sewage into our waters. We also need more money. These large cities, in particular, they have now some bonding, but there is not enough money to get these upgrades done as fast as they should be done. And this is a great time to invest because we need the jobs too.”

Miner says the sewage systems in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport need attention. The EPA is inviting the public to submit written comments on sewage overflows. It’s also iholding a public listening session in mid July.

For WNPR, I’m Nancy Cohen